Hydrogen Power Rich Harth Chris Bartlow Kathleen Montz Rose Morgans Rich Harth Chris Bartlow Kathleen Montz Rose Morgans

Objectives  Whether or not hydrogen is a viable source of energy.  Can it be developed?  Obstacles: Environmental, Social, and Political  Sustainable?  Whether or not hydrogen is a viable source of energy.  Can it be developed?  Obstacles: Environmental, Social, and Political  Sustainable?

What is Hydrogen?  Gas  Found everywhere  Found in water    Gas  Found everywhere  Found in water  

Production of Hydrogen  Steam reforming  Electrolysis 1800 –English scientists William Nicholson and Sir Anthony Carlisle  Gasification  Steam reforming  Electrolysis 1800 –English scientists William Nicholson and Sir Anthony Carlisle  Gasification

Introduction  For transportation not electrical production  Hydrogen is combustible  2 H 2 (g) + O 2 (g) → 2 H 2 O(l)  Internal combustion engines  Fuel cells  Use hydrogen to produce electricity  Under development  For transportation not electrical production  Hydrogen is combustible  2 H 2 (g) + O 2 (g) → 2 H 2 O(l)  Internal combustion engines  Fuel cells  Use hydrogen to produce electricity  Under development

How Does Hydrogen Power Work?  Fuel Cell Internal Combustion?

History  1766 Henry Cavendish  Produced Hydrogen  1845 Sir William Grove  “Father of fuel cell”  1959 Francis T. Bacon  Tractor  1766 Henry Cavendish  Produced Hydrogen  1845 Sir William Grove  “Father of fuel cell”  1959 Francis T. Bacon  Tractor

In Recent History  Very new technology commercially  Result of fossil fuel limitability  Under production  Requires a new field of economy  Very new technology commercially  Result of fossil fuel limitability  Under production  Requires a new field of economy

Supporting Evidence  Fuel Cell Cars  Fuel Cell 18 wheelers  ernal_combustion_engine_vehicles ernal_combustion_engine_vehicles  Hydrogen Generators  df df  Fuel Cell Buses  Fuel Cell Bikes   Fuel Cell Cars  Fuel Cell 18 wheelers  ernal_combustion_engine_vehicles ernal_combustion_engine_vehicles  Hydrogen Generators  df df  Fuel Cell Buses  Fuel Cell Bikes 

Evidence Rebuttal  Hydrogen's availability  Cost  Hydrogen is a gas  Danger  Requires Resources   Hydrogen's availability  Cost  Hydrogen is a gas  Danger  Requires Resources 

Outlook on Production  Natural Gases  From Coal  Nuclear Power  Renewable Resources   Natural Gases  From Coal  Nuclear Power  Renewable Resources 

Complications  Hard to store  Conversion to usable Hydrogen  Cost  Distribution  Wikipedia article on hydrogen Wikipedia article on hydrogen  Hard to store  Conversion to usable Hydrogen  Cost  Distribution  Wikipedia article on hydrogen Wikipedia article on hydrogen

Safety Hazards..  Hydrogen has the widest explosive/ignition mix range with air of all the gases except acetylene. That means that whatever the mix proportion between air and hydrogen, a hydrogen leak will lead to an explosion, not a mere flame.  Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy.

Solutions to Problems  Hydrogen transport vehicles  Fuel Cell Infrastructure  New Thermodynamically efficient Technologies  US DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Intrastructure Technologies Program US DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Intrastructure Technologies Program  Hydrogen transport vehicles  Fuel Cell Infrastructure  New Thermodynamically efficient Technologies  US DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Intrastructure Technologies Program US DOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Intrastructure Technologies Program

Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy

Effects on the Environment  Emissions of CO 2  Electrolysis of water  Fossil fuel reforming  By-products of hydrogen-nitrogen reactions in internal combustion engines  Leaked Hydrogen can become catalyst for ozone depletion  Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy  Emissions of CO 2  Electrolysis of water  Fossil fuel reforming  By-products of hydrogen-nitrogen reactions in internal combustion engines  Leaked Hydrogen can become catalyst for ozone depletion  Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy

Laws and Regulations  Flame detectors must be used  -Implementation of higher standards to detect early leaks  -“Standard for the installation of stationary fuel cell power systems” (Wiki)  - Codes and standards have been a major barrier to deploying hydrogen technologies and developing a hydrogen economy  -DOE is currently in the process of devising safety codes, standards and regulations  Flame detectors must be used  -Implementation of higher standards to detect early leaks  -“Standard for the installation of stationary fuel cell power systems” (Wiki)  - Codes and standards have been a major barrier to deploying hydrogen technologies and developing a hydrogen economy  -DOE is currently in the process of devising safety codes, standards and regulations

Sustainability  Hydrogen can be produced in a variety of ways  -Most efficient way is by electrolysis of water  -Water can be recycled and used for drinking  -Overall sustainable as it is the most abundant element in the universe  Hydrogen can be produced in a variety of ways  -Most efficient way is by electrolysis of water  -Water can be recycled and used for drinking  -Overall sustainable as it is the most abundant element in the universe

Efficiency  Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not a source  Relies on the use of other fuels to be used  Overall use of energy to create outweighs energy production  Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not a source  Relies on the use of other fuels to be used  Overall use of energy to create outweighs energy production

Wikipedia article on hydrogen economy

Conclusion  Renewable  Better for the Environment  Good replacement for Gasoline?  Development  Renewable  Better for the Environment  Good replacement for Gasoline?  Development

Questions?