Abstract:
An ocean-powered hydrogen generator system includes: a transportable ocean-going vessel, the vessel is movable to a location with ocean kinetic energy; a generator for converting ocean kinetic energy into electrical energy, the generator is movable on the vessel between a transport position and a generating position; a dissociator for using the electrical energy to dissociate ocean water into hydrogen and oxygen, the dissociator is located on the vessel and operatively connected to the generator; and a container for storing the generated hydrogen and oxygen on the vessel, the container is in fluid communication with the dissociator.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a hydrogen generator vessel in which turbines may be raised and lowered from the vessel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The quest for renewable energy sources is on-going. The ocean is a potentially grand source of renewable energy. For example, massive ocean storms, such as typhoons and hurricanes, are a great source of energy, but there is a need for a safe method of capturing their energy. 
     One should not have to wait for one of these storms to make landfall before their energy can be harnessed, so a transportable device would be best to take advantage of the numerous storms that occur over the ocean. A transportable vessel could be moved to the storm and would not have to be anchored to the ocean&#39;s bottom, the anchoring process is expensive and complicates (e.g., increases cost) the energy generating process. 
     Off-loading the stored energy is another consideration. Wind turbines can be used to generate electricity, but how is that electrical energy shipped back to land for use. One potential solution is the use of the electricity to dissociate water into its elemental form (hydrogen, H 2 , and oxygen, O 2 ). This water dissociation process, electrolysis, is well known. It was demonstrated, in 1800 by William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle, that electrolysis of water produces oxygen and hydrogen. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a system that harnesses the renewable energy of the ocean with the foregoing considerations in mind. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An ocean-powered hydrogen generator system includes: a transportable ocean-going vessel, the vessel is movable to a location with ocean kinetic energy; a generator for converting ocean kinetic energy into electrical energy, the generator is movable on the vessel between a transport position and a generating position; a dissociator for using the electrical energy to dissociate ocean water into hydrogen and oxygen, the dissociator is located on the vessel and operatively connected to the generator; and a container for storing the generated hydrogen and oxygen on the vessel, the container is in fluid communication with the dissociator. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a side elevational view of an embodiment with the generator in an upper position. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a front elevational view of an embodiment with the generator in an upper position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown, in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the ocean-going hydrogen generator system  10 . System  10  generally includes: a transportable vessel  14 , a generator  18 , a dissociator  20 , and a container  22 , each will be discussed in greater detail below. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  includes a vessel  14  that is afloat on and transportable over an ocean  12  (it being understood that the invention is not limited to an ocean, but may be any sufficiently large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, lake, or river). 
     Vessel  14  may be any type of vessel. In one embodiment, for example see  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the vessel may be a single hull vessel, but the vessel  14  is not so limited and may be a multi-hulled vessel or a catamaran-type vessel or a barge. The vessel  14  may also include an anchor  16 . Anchor  16  may be any conventional anchor for an ocean-going vessel, such as sea-anchor, drogue, drift anchor, drift sock, para-anchor, boat brake, or the like. The vessel  14  is transportable. Transportable means that the vessel  14  may be towed or driven (self-contained motive power) to various spots on the ocean. 
     Generator  18  generally includes three portions: a generator; a support for the generator; and a rotator for raising and lowering the generator into and out of the ocean. An upper (or transport) position of the generator  18  is out of the ocean (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), and a lower (or generating) position of the generator  18  is in the ocean (see  FIGS. 1-3 and 5 ). 
     The generator portion generally includes: a turbine  24 , an electrical generator  26 , and a shaft  25  interconnecting the turbine  24  and the generator  26 . The turbine is located at a distal end of the shaft  25 . The generator may be located at or beyond (away from the turbine  24 ) the proximal end of the shaft  25 . The turbine  24  and generator  26  are coupled, in any conventional fashion, so that ocean kinetic energy (e.g., wave energy) may turn the turbine which in turn drives the generator  26 . The generator  26  may be any type of generator. In one embodiment, the generator  26  is a direct current (DC) generator. The number of generator portions may vary, note  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 . The lateral spacing of the turbines may vary, note  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The depth of the turbines, relative to the vessel  14 , may vary (not shown). 
     The generator support portion provides mechanical strength to support the weight of the generator portion. Generator support portion may include a generator support  32 . Generator support  32  may be pivotable (discussed in greater detail below). Generator support  32  may be located directly behind shaft  25  (e.g., first position), when the generator portion is in a lower (or generating) position, see  FIGS. 1-3, and 5 . Generator support  32  may be pivoted to a cross position (e.g., second position), when the generator is in an upper (or transport) position, see  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Generator support  32  may be connected to the distal end of shaft  25 . When the generator is lifted from the ocean, generator support  32  is pivoted (or swung), whereby the free end of generator support  32  contacts the vessel  14  and thereby supports the weight of the turbine  24  while the generator  18  is in the transport position. Pivoting of the generator support  32  may be accomplished in any conventional manner. 
     The rotator for raising and lowering the generator into and out of the ocean may include a turbine rotator  28  and a rotator rest  30 . The rotator is used to raise and lower the generator  18  between the upper (or transport) position and the lower (or generating) position. The rotator  28  may be any conventional mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotator  28  may be connected to the proximal end of the shaft  25 . Rotator  28  may sit on rest  30  which is connected to the vessel  14 . 
     Optionally, the generator  18  may include a float  36 . Float  36  may be used to assist in keeping vessel  14  righted during storms. Float  36  may be located at the proximal end of shaft  25 . 
     Dissociator  20  uses the electrical energy from the generator  18  to dissociate water. Electrolysis is the dissociation process. Dissociator  20  generally includes: dissociation plates  40 , hydrogen (H 2 ) tubing  42 , oxygen (O 2 ) tubing  44 , and a compressor  46 , see  FIG. 3 . Dissociator plates  40  are in electrical communication with electrical generator  26  (e.g., via cables  41 —see  FIG. 3 ). Dissociator plates  40  may be located anywhere in system  10 , so long as they submerged in operation. In the illustrated embodiment, plates  40  are located at the distal end of shaft  25 . Plates  40  may have any configuration. In one embodiment, the plates may be honeycombed. The H 2  tubing  42  and the O 2  tubing  44  interconnect the plates  40  with a compressor  46 . Compressor  46  is used to transport the gases from the plates  40  to the storage containers (discussed below) and may compress the gases to facilitate storage. Compressor  46  may be any conventional compressor. Compressor  46  may be located anywhere within system  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, compressor  46  is located on-board vessel  14 . 
     Container  22  is used to store the dissociated gases H 2  and O 2  prior to use. Containers  22  may be any conventional container suitable for storing a gas. Container  22  may include a H 2  container  48  and O 2  container  50 . Additionally, container  22  includes off-loading ports  52  (for H 2 ) and  54  (for O 2 ). 
     In operation, the system  10  is moved into place, e.g., in the path of a storm, with the generator is the upper (or transport) position. Once in place, the system the generator  18  is lowered into the lower (or generating) position and the system  10  may be anchored. With the generator  18  in the lower position, ocean kinetic energy drives the turbine  24 . The turbine  24  drives electrical generator  26 . Electrical generator  26  powers plates  40  of the dissociator  20 . Gas produced at plates  40  are conveyed, via tubing  42  and  44  and compressor  46 , to containers  22 . After the storm, or when the container  22  are full, system  10  may be moved to off-load the stored gases via ports  52  and  54 . The off-loaded gases may be used in any conventional manner, including power generation. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.