One of the most Important Sources of Green Energy
25 August 2009 | Alternative Energy | 3 Comments
In this post we will talk about a non-colored gas, odorless and also a non-toxic gas. This gas is actually called hydrogen (density is 0.09g/l, 14.4 times and weighs three times less than air). Hydrogen condenses at -252.77 °C and liquid hydrogen density is 71 g/L, which means it has the highest energy density per weight unit among all fuels: 1 kg of hydrogen contain energy equal to 2.1 kg of natural gas or 2.8 kg of oil.
Liquid hydrogen energy density/volume represents a quarter of oil density and the third part of natural gas density. We all know that burning hydrogen in internal combustion engines or in gas turbines produces a negligible amount of pollutant gases. If hydrogen is used in low temperature cell batteries (ex. PEMFC) emissions can be reduced to 0. When energy is generated using hydrogen and air or oxygen, the only reaction product is distilled water. In high temperature cellular batteries, emissions are a hundred times smaller than in conventional thermal plants.
Where we can find hydrogen?
In nature we can not find pure hydrogen (hydrogen able of storing energy), so it can not be exploited as coal or oil. Hydrogen must be extracted from chemical compounds, and that is why scientists call it secondary energy carrier. The best known compound is water and contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, but there are many other substances that contain hydrogen (ex. methane, that contains a carbon atom and 4 hydrogen atoms).
Biomass also contains a significant amount of hydrogen. May you not know, but every year, about 500 billion cubic meters of hydrogen are produced, stored, transported and used in chemical and petrochemical industry. However, the largest amount of hydrogen is obtained as a byproduct, by processing fossil fuels (oil and gas). Electrolysis (extracting hydrogen from water) is currently, and also in the near future, the only process with a real practicality.
Hydrogen as fuel for our vehicles!
I think that in the near future everyone will have the opportunity to drive hydrogen powered cars or to cook using hydrogen energy. Hydrogen can serve as fuel for almost any vehicle in two ways:
1. Conventional engines can burn hydrogen instead of gasoline;
2. Hydrogen can be used in FC batteries (fuel cells) that generate Electricity for electric motor cars.
Advantages of using fuel cell batteries:
a. Emissions are nothing but water;
b. No noise and vibration as the internal combustion engine;
c. Electric engine is more efficient, and thus the energy consumption is reduced.
d. The noise is reduced when we start the engine, so noise pollution in big cities will be also reduced;
On hybrid vehicles market already appeared many hybrid models that use hydrogen and fuel cell technology, and we hope that this hybrid car market will expand in all countries in the world( we also hope that the number of hydrogen fueling stations will increase), to protect the environment as much as possible, reducing CO2 emissions.
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Fuel cell batteries has replaced many places. Sooner this will be opted to be the good choice is conserving energy and the other coal and combustible resources will not be suggested for usage.. Angeline @ change management
Are we KILLING water when hydrogen is made?
Water is vital to life = True or False
Great post with lots of imptraont stuff.