A Hydrogen Economy: A Hydrogen Economy


Agenda: Agenda A Hydrogen Vision of the Future Hydrogen Systems Producing Hydrogen Storing and Transporting Hydrogen Hydrogen Fueled Transport Problems with Hydrogen The Promise of Hydrogen Hydrogen Summary


A Vision of a Hydrogen Future: A Vision of a Hydrogen Future "I believe that water will one day be employed as fuel, that hydrogen and oxygen which constitute it, used singly or together, will furnish an inexhaustible source of heat and light, of an intensity of which coal is not capable. I believe then that when the deposits of coal are exhausted, we shall heat and warm ourselves with water. Water will be the coal of the future."  Jules Vernes (1870) L´île mystérieuse


The Hydrogen H2 Molecule: The Hydrogen H2 Molecule http://planetforlife.com/h2/index.html


Hydrogen Economy Schematic: Hydrogen Economy Schematic


Hydrogen Economy in Hong Kong: Hydrogen Economy in Hong Kong http://www.gii.com.hk/eng/clean_energy.htm


Hydrogen Fueling Station: Hydrogen Fueling Station


Hydrogen Systems: Hydrogen Systems


Hydrogen Energy Cycle: Hydrogen Energy Cycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy


Hydrogen Production Cycle: Hydrogen Production Cycle Crabtree et al., “The Hydrogen Economy,” Physics Today, Dec 2004


Operating the Hydrogen Economy: Operating the Hydrogen Economy Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Hydrogen Economy Supply Chain: Hydrogen Economy Supply Chain


Hydrogen Pathways: Hydrogen Pathways http://www.ch2bc.org/index2.htm


Advantages of a Hydrogen Economy: Advantages of a Hydrogen Economy Waste product of burning H2 is water Elimination of fossil fuel pollution Elimination of greenhouse gases Elimination of economic dependence Distributed production http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


Issues with Hydrogen: Issues with Hydrogen Not widely available on planet earth Usually chemically combined in water or fossil fuels (must be separated) Fossil fuel sources contribute to pollution and greenhouse gases Electrolysis requires prodigious amounts of energy


Technological Questions: Technological Questions Where does hydrogen come from? How is it transported? How is it distributed? How is it stored? http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


Producing Hydrogen: Producing Hydrogen


Current Hydrogen Production: Current Hydrogen Production Current hydrogen production 48% natural gas 30% oil 18% coal 4% electrolysis Global Production 50 million tonnes / yr Growing 10% / yr US Production 11 million tonnes / yr


How is Hydrogen Produced?: How is Hydrogen Produced? Reforming fossil fuels Heat hydrocarbons with steam Produce H2 and CO Electrolysis of water Use electricity to split water into O2 and H2 High Temperature Electrolysis Experimental Biological processes Very common in nature Experimental in laboratories http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


Steam Reforming: Steam Reforming From any hydrocarbon Natural gas typically used Water (steam) and hydrocarbon mixed at high temperature (700–1100 °C) Steam (H2O) reacts with methane (CH4) CH4 + H2O → CO + 3 H2 - 191.7 kJ/mol The thermodynamic efficiency comparable to (or worse than) an internal combustion engine Difficult to motivate investment in technology


Carbon Monoxide Reforming: Carbon Monoxide Reforming Additional hydrogen can be recovered using carbon monoxide (CO) low-temp (130°C) water gas shift reaction CO + H2O → CO2 + H2 + 40.4 kJ/mol Oxygen (O) atom stripped from steam Oxidizes the carbon (C) Liberates hydrogen bound to C and O2


Hydrogen Steam Reforming: Hydrogen Steam Reforming


Hydrogen Steam Reforming Plants: Hydrogen Steam Reforming Plants


Electrolysis of Water (H2O): Electrolysis of Water (H2O) http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/9-12/fc_energy/make_your_own_hydrogen_results.html


Electrolysis of Water: Electrolysis of Water http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/electrol.html


Renewable Energy for Electrolysis: Renewable Energy for Electrolysis http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy4.htm


Biomass Electrolysis Module: Biomass Electrolysis Module http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/photos.html


High Temperature Electrolysis: High Temperature Electrolysis Electrolysis at high temperatures Use less energy to split water http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy


Biological H2 Creation: Biological H2 Creation Nature has very simple methods to split water Scientists are working to mimic these processes in the lab; then commercially Crabtree et al., “The Hydrogen Economy,” Physics Today, Dec 2004


Storing & Transporting Hydrogen: Storing & Transporting Hydrogen


Hydrogen Storage: Hydrogen Storage Storage a major difficulty with hydrogen H2 has low energy density per volume Requires large tanks to store H2 can be compressed to reduce volume Requires heavy, strong tanks H2 can be liquefied to reduce volume Boils at -423 °F (cryogenic) Requires heavily insulated, expensive tanks Both compression and liquefaction require a lot of energy


Ammonia Storage: Ammonia Storage H2 can be stored as ammonia (NH3) Exceptionally high hydrogen densities Ammonia very common chemical Large infrastructure already exists Easily reformed to produce hydrogen No harmful waste BUT Ammonia production is energy intensive Ammonia is a toxic gas


Metal Hydride Storage: Metal Hydride Storage Metal hydrides can carry hydrogen Boron, lithium, sodium Good energy density, but worse than gas Volumes much larger than gasoline Three times more volume Four times heavier Hydrides can react violently with water Leading contenders Sodium Borohydride Lithium Aluminum Hydride Ammonia Borane


Alkali Prod. Energy vs. Instrinsic Energy: Alkali Prod. Energy vs. Instrinsic Energy Energy needed to produce alkali metal hydrides relative to the energy content of the liberated hydrogen. Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Transporting Hydrogen: Transporting Hydrogen


Storing & Transporting Hydrogen: Storing & Transporting Hydrogen Store and Transport as a Gas Bulky gas Compressing H2 requires energy Compressed H2 has far less energy than the same volume of gasoline Store and Transport as a Solid Sodium Borohydride Calcium Hydride Lithium Hydride Sodium Hydride http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


Hydrogen Fueled Transport: Hydrogen Fueled Transport


Hydrogen-Powered Autos: Hydrogen-Powered Autos


Hydrogen-Powered Autos: Hydrogen-Powered Autos http://planetforlife.com/h2/h2vehicle.html


Hydrogen-Powered Trucks: Hydrogen-Powered Trucks http://planetforlife.com/h2/h2vehicle.html


Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft: Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft http://aix.meng.auth.gr/lhtee/projects/cryoplane/ Hydrogen powered passenger aircraft with cryogenic tanks along spine of fuselage. Hydrogen fuel requires about 4 times the volume of standard jet fuel (kerosene). http://planetforlife.com/h2/h2vehicle.html


Hydrogen-Powered Rockets: Hydrogen-Powered Rockets http://planetforlife.com/h2/h2vehicle.html


Implications of Hydrogen Transport: Implications of Hydrogen Transport http://planetforlife.com/h2/h2swiss.html


Problems with Hydrogen: Problems with Hydrogen


Environmental Concerns: Environmental Concerns 48% of hydrogen made from natural gas Creates CO2 – a greenhouse gas Hydrogen H2 inevitably leaks from containers Creates free radicals (H) in stratosphere due to ultraviolet radiation Could act as catalysts for ozone depletion


H2 Energy Densities: H2 Energy Densities Crabtree et al., “The Hydrogen Economy,” Physics Today, Dec 2004


Energy Densities for Various Fuels: Energy Densities for Various Fuels Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm Higher Heating Value (HHV) is a measure of energy


H2 and Energy Density for Various Fuels: H2 and Energy Density for Various Fuels Hydrogen density and HHV energy content of ammonia and selected synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuels Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Hydrogen vs. Methane: Hydrogen vs. Methane Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Liquifaction Energy vs. Intrinsic Energy: Liquifaction Energy vs. Intrinsic Energy Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Hydrogen Storage Densities: Hydrogen Storage Densities Crabtree et al., “The Hydrogen Economy,” Physics Today, Dec 2004


Hydrogen Energy Losses: Hydrogen Energy Losses Windmills generate electricity. Electricity converted to H2 – 70% efficiency. H2 compressed for pumping – 20% energy loss H2 pumped long distance – 30% loss 65% loss to Europe from the Sahara). Loss at filling stations – assume 5% Loss in fuel cell – 50% (possibly only 40%) Combining losses → only 15-18% useful electricity, or vehicle motor power 9.3% in the case of the Sahara Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Criticism of Hydrogen Economy: Criticism of Hydrogen Economy Hydrogen economy idea does not work for multiple reasons. No practical source of cheap hydrogen No good way to store hydrogen No good way to distribute hydrogen Problems with physical & chemical properties of hydrogen Technology cannot change these facts. Compact / convenient future energy carrier needed Methane, ethane, methanol, ethanol, butane, octane, ammonia, etc. are better energy carriers. Difficult to understand the enthusiasm for hydrogen Hydrogen does not solve the energy problem and it is a bad choice for carrying energy. Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Elemental Hydrogen Economy: Elemental Hydrogen Economy Elemental Hydrogen Economy based on the natural cycle of water. Elemental hydrogen is provided to the user Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


Synthetic Liquid Hydrocarbon Economy : Synthetic Liquid Hydrocarbon Economy A Synthetic Liquid Hydrocarbon Economy may be based on the two natural cycles of water and carbon dioxide. Natural and synthetic liquid hydrocarbons are provided to the user. Bossel et al., The Future of the Hydrogen Economy: Bright or Bleak?, Oct 28, 2004 http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h2_eco.htm


The Promise of Hydrogen: The Promise of Hydrogen


UNIDO-ICHET Projection: UNIDO-ICHET Projection http://www.unido-ichet.org/ICHET-transition.php UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR HYDROGEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES


The Iceland Example: The Iceland Example Iceland committed to be the first hydrogen economy 2050 goal Will use geothermal resources to create hydrogen Power autos, buses, and fishing fleet with hydrogen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy


Hydrogen Summary: Hydrogen Summary


Advantages of a Hydrogen Economy: Advantages of a Hydrogen Economy Waste product of burning H2 is water Elimination of fossil fuel pollution Elimination of greenhouse gases Elimination of economic dependence Distributed production The stuff of stars http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


Disadvantages of Hydrogen: Disadvantages of Hydrogen Low energy densities Difficulty in handling, storage, transport Requires an entirely new infrastructure Creates CO2 if made from fossil fuels Low net energy yields Much energy needed to create hydrogen Possible environmental problems Ozone depletion (not proven at this point)


Extra Slides: Extra Slides


Energy Density of Hydrogen: Energy Density of Hydrogen


Current Uses of Hydrogen: Current Uses of Hydrogen


Thermochemical Production: Thermochemical Production


Problems with Hydrogen: Problems with Hydrogen


Prospects for the Future: Prospects for the Future http://www.howstuffworks.com/hydrogen-economy.htm


The Hydrogen Vision: The Hydrogen Vision