Energy Supply System with Reversible Functional Element

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This invention describes an advanced energy supply system integrating a photocatalytic electrolyzer and an electrocatalytic fuel cell into a single, reversible functional element. This unit directly uses solar radiation to split water and generate hydrogen during the day (without converting sunlight first into electricity), and then uses the stored hydrogen to produce electrical power at night. The system is compact and can integrate a hydrogen storage solution, forming a hybrid module suitable for mounting on building facades or rooftops, enabling buildings to autonomously generate and store energy sustainably, day and night.

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• Autonomous energy supply for residential and commercial buildings, enabling off-grid operation.
• Renewable energy solutions for remote or rural locations lacking access to centralized grids.
• Modular integration into 'energy tiles' or façade elements for smart buildings and green architecture.
• Backup power supply in critical infrastructure, relying on day/night hydrogen storage and conversion.
• Self-sufficient energy units for telecommunications, defense, or field applications needing continuous power.

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• Continuous, self-sufficient power supply by switching between hydrogen generation (day) and electricity generation (night).
• Highly space-efficient due to functional integration (electrolyzer + fuel cell + hydrogen storage in one unit).
• Direct use of solar energy for hydrogen production, increasing efficiency by bypassing conventional photovoltaic electricity generation.
• Reduction in system complexity and installation effort due to modular, multifunctional design.
• Enhanced building sustainability and energy independence through integration into building structures.
• Potential cost savings over time by reducing reliance on external energy and minimizing component count.
• Environmentally friendly: leverages solar energy and hydrogen with zero on-site emissions during operation.

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Patent Abstract

Known energy supply systems comprising at least one photocatalytic electrolyzer for producing hydrogen using solar radiation, comprising a hydrogen store, and comprising at least one electrocatalytic fuel cell for generating electricity from hydrogen are either not reversible (and thus not sufficiently time-efficient) or use photovoltaically generated solar power in the production of hydrogen. The hydrogen store is arranged externally. The aim of the invention is an efficient daytime- and nighttime-mode of operation. This is achieved in that the photovoltaic electrolyzer (01) is structurally combined with the electrocatalytic fuel cell (02) in a reversible functional element (03). In the presence of solar radiation (07), hydrogen is photovoltaically produced directly from solar radiation without having to photovoltaically generate solar power, and in the absence of solar radiation, electric power is electrocatalytically generated using supplied hydrogen. For this purpose, the reversible functional element (03) has a bifunctional electrocatalytic coating (15) on the functional element rear face (14) which faces away from the sun, said coating guaranteeing an efficient catalysis in both modes of operation. Advantageously, a reversible hybrid element (19) is produced by additionally integrating the hydrogen store (18). Said hybrid element can be advantageously designed as a building attachment element (24). Thus, buildings can be supplied with energy in a completely self-sufficient manner even in combination with other solar-based functional elements (63).