Patent ID: 7892407
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: C25B,H01L,H01M,H02S,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic electrolyzer system comprising: an electrolyzer subsystem; a DC-DC converter configured to selectively provide energy to an electrolyzer power input; a photovoltaic subsystem for selectively providing energy directly to the electrolyzer power input or to the DC-DC converter; a controller for intermittently selecting only one of the photovoltaic subsystem along a first current path or the DC-DC converter as a power source along a second current path, to the power input of the electrolyzer in response to varying light conditions; and wherein the electrolyzer subsystem is configured to electrolyze water to generate hydrogen at greater than a predetermined efficiency between a first and second operating voltages, and wherein said photovoltaic subsystem is configured to provide electric power at a voltage between the first and second operating voltages, wherein the electrolyzer subsystem consists of a plurality of electrolysis cells which are connected together in at least one of a series connection, to accept a higher operating voltage, and a parallel connection, to accept a higher operating current.