HYDROGEN

the "forever fuel" that we can never run out of

Water + energy

hydrogen + oxygen

Hydrogen +

oxygen

water + energy

Why is hydrogen so important?

Hydrogen is ~75% of the known universe On earth, its not an energy source like oil or coal Only an energy carrier like electricity or gasoline a form of energy, derived from a source, that can be moved around The most versatile energy carrier - Can be made from any source and used for any service - Readily stored in large amounts Almost never found by itself; must be liberated - Reform HCs or CHs with heat and catalysts - Electrolyze water (split H2O with electricity) - Experimental methods: photolysis, plasma, microorganisms, 1 kg of H2 contains same energy as 1 U.S. gallon of gasoline, which weighs not 2.2 but 6.2 pounds

Present uses of hydrogen

Most used in petroleum refining and petrochemical production (93%) other uses metal processing (2.7%) manufacture of electronics components (1.5%) food processing (.7 %) manufacture of glass (.3%) utility power generation (.2%)

Is it safe?: A primer on Hydrogen safety

All fuels are hazardous, but Hydrogen is comparably or less so, but different:

Clear flame cant sear you at a distance; no smoke

Hard to make explode; cant explode in free air; burns first 22 less explosive power Rises, doesnt puddle Hindenburg myth (1937) nobody was killed by hydrogen fire Completely unrelated to hydrogen bombs

History of hydrogen as energy

1820 H2 combustion in a engine like device to do mechanical work better than a steam engine as no warm-up time was needed 1874 science fiction prediction that hydrogen would be the chief fuel after coal by decomposing water using electricity 1900 first lab experiments with electrolysis 1920 Large scale plants in Canada using hydro-electricity from Niagara Falls to make hydrogen. Company was Stuart Electrolyzer that is still in the business today (same family) 1923 hydrogen from wind generated electricity in England to avoid pollution from coal fired power plants. Hydrogen stored as a cryogenic liquid. 1919 hydrogen used as a fuel for vehicles in Germany 1930 hydrogen distributed in pipelines in Germany 1930s hydrogen used in mixtures (usually injected into the cylinders) with liquid fuels to markedly increase engine power. Work done in Germany

1950 first hydrogen/air fuel cell in lab in England 1962 fuel cell work in Germany in connection with splitting water with solar energy

1962 proposal to use solar energy to make hydrogen for fuel cells in urban areas to generate electricity 1970- General Motors proposed using the fuel cell in passenger cars to replace the gasoline engine 6

The First Question: Where Does Hydrogen Come From?

Steam Reforming
currently most energy efficient requires improvements not cost effective requires high temperatures requires improvements slow kinetics

Fossil Fuels
Partial Oxidation Electrolysis

Water
Thermochemical Gasification Microbial

Biomass

95% of hydrogen is currently produced by steam reforming

Steam Reforming of Methane

Steam Reforming of Methane, cont.

Catalysts: Ni, or Au-Ni

CH4 + H2O CO + 3H2

DH298 = 206 kJ/mol

Water gas shift reaction CO + H2O CO2 + H2 DH298 = -41kJ/mol

Water electrolysis

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Electrode types

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The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier or fuel requires development of:

Production

Delivery

Storage

Conversion

End-Use Applications

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HYDROGEN IN TRANSPORTATION

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Hydrogen cars will be cheaper per mile driven

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Hydrogen Hybrids?
While almost all HEVs are powered with gasoline today, they can also be efficiently powered with hydrogen. In fact, the Ford Motor Company has demonstrated up to 25% higher efficiency with an ICE designed specifically to run on hydrogen compared to a similar gasoline ICE. A hydrogenpowered HEV can achieve 95% to 99% of the environmental benefits and 100% of the oil reduction advantages of a fuel cell vehicle. Indeed, the hydrogen HEV has two major advantages over the FCV: The hydrogen HEV is based on proved 100+ yearold ICE technology The hydrogen HEV cost is much less than the FCV cost today
Liquid Hydrogen filling station at Munich airport (Germany)

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Ford U-Concept

Hydrogen powered internal combustion engine

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Hydrogen Storage

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