Hydrogen Economy
and
Fuel Cells
1
Some Driving Comments
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
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3
Some Driving Comments
•
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
The world population is increasing
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5
Some Driving Comments
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
•
The world population is increasing
•
There is not an infinite supply of oil and natural gas
6
Some Driving Comments
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
•
The world population is increasing
•
There is not an infinite supply of oil and natural gas
•
Nuclear power is serious safety concern
7
Some Driving Comments
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
•
The world population is increasing
•
There is not an infinite supply of oil and natural gas
•
Nuclear power is serious safety concern
•
Pollution of greenhouse gasses a global issue
8
9
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Some Driving Comments
•
The world’s appetite for energy is increasing as the
standard of living increases
•
The world population is increasing
•
There is not an infinite supply of oil and natural gas
•
Nuclear power is serious safety concern
•
Pollution of greenhouse gasses a global issue
11
Energy Needs
• Current energy distribution system based on
inventory
• It needs to be regenerable
• Current energy infrastructure based on real time and
inventory
• Wind/Tidal/Photovoltaic
• Oil/gas
• Nuclear
Real Time
Inventory
Inventory
• Only input of new energy to Earth is Solar
12
Current Hydrocarbon Energy Delivery
•
Based on oxidation of dead plants and animals (Solar Energy
Inventory)
C+O2=CO2
2H2+O2=2H2O
•
Although carbon oxidation generates a lot of energy it also
generates the most significant Green House Gas CO2
•
Combustion of Hydrogen has no environmental impact
•
Hydrogen can be regenerated in a number of processes
13
Current Hydrocarbon Energy Delivery

Based on oxidation of dead plants and animals
(Solar Energy Inventory)
C+O2=CO2
H2+O2=2H2O

Although carbon oxidation generates a lot of energy it is also
the most significant Green House Gas

Combustion of Hydrogen has no environmental impact

Hydrogen can be regenerated in a number of processes
A Hydrogen vs. Hydrocarbon based
Economy may be a better alternate
14
Why Hydrogen Economy?
•
•
•
•
•
Hydrogen has one of the highest energy/kg
Hydrogen oxidation has only water as an
emission
Hydrogen is non toxic to humans
More secure supply of energy
Only sustainable source of energy distribution
15
Hydrogen Infrastructure Issues
•
Hydrogen bomb
•
Hindenberg
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Hydrogen Infrastructure Issues
• Hydrogen Bomb fear
• We are not working in Nuclear energy range
• Hindenberg Fear
• 33 of 35 people killed resulted from jumping
• 2 of 35 were killed by burning from the flammable skin and
diesel Fuel Fire
• The H2 fire burned for 60 sec (7.2MM ft3)
• The diesel fire burned for 10hrs.
• All that survived rode the ship to the ground
17
Physical Data
Heat of
Combustion, Autoignition
Temp, Deg F
BTU/lb
Flame
Temp,
Deg F
Flammability
Limit, % in
air
Flame
speed,
ft/sec
Hydrogen
51,571
1060 Deg F
8691
4-75%
8.7
ft/sec
Methane
21,502
1170 Deg F
8607
4-15%
1.4
ft/sec
Propane
19,929
940 Deg F
8744
2-11%
1.5
ft/sec
Gasoline
19,222
837 Deg F
6776
.8-6%
1.1
ft/sec 18
Conclusions
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hydrogen flames are no hotter than other gas flames
Hydrogen is 15 times lighter than air so it disperses
quickly up
Hydrogen fires take place in 1/10 the time of other
hydrocarbon fires
Hydrogen fires are colorless and therefore have little
radiant heat transfer
Hydrogen is not toxic to humans
Humans can stand a lot of heat…but not for very long
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Why Fuel Cells?
• Hydrogen vs. gasoline for automobiles
• Gasoline well to wheel efficiency=~14%
• Fuel cell efficiency well to wheel =42%
• Hydrogen vs. coal/oil for make electricity
• Fossil Fuel to electricity=30-35%
• Hydrogen= 72-85%
• Fuel Cells are small enough to consider distributed
generation
• Justifies Combined Heat and Power at home >90% eff.
• Permits generation of H2 for cars 10$/tankful
• Hydrogen can be regenerated thru known processes
based on the solar input
20
Skills necessary to Compete
• Process Engineering/System Engineering
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Heat transfer
Mass transfer
Momentum transfer
Simultaneous Transfer
Reaction Kinetics
Process Simulation
Process Controls
• Materials (Strength and properties)
• Hydrogen diffusion into metals
• Electrochemical reaction design
• Safety design (Hazop/Max Creditable Accident)
• 6 Sigma approach to design, manufacturing, maintenance and
quality (Black belt)
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