Introduction to Hydrogen Technology (eBook)

K. S. V. Santhanam, Roman J. Press, Massoud J. Miri, Alla V. Bailey, Gerald A. Takacs (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2017 | 2. Auflage
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-1-119-26557-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Introduces the field of hydrogen technology and explains the basic chemistry underlying promising and innovative new technologies

This new and completely updated edition of Introduction to Hydrogen Technology explains, at an introductory level, the scientific and technical aspects of hydrogen technology. It incorporates information on the latest developments and the current research in the field, including: new techniques for isolating and storing hydrogen, usage as a fuel for automobiles, residential power systems, mobile power systems, and space applications.

Introduction to Hydrogen Technology, Second Edition features classroom-tested exercises and sample problems. It details new economical methods for isolating the pure hydrogen molecule. These less expensive methods help make hydrogen fuel a very viable alternative to petroleum-based energy. The book also adds a new chapter on hydrogen production and batteries. It also provides in-depth coverage of the many technical hurdles in hydrogen storage. The developments in fuel cells since the last edition has been updated.

• Offers new chapters on hydrogen production, storage, and batteries
• Features new sections on advanced hydrogen systems, new membranes, greenhouse gas sensors and updated technologies involving solar and wind energies
• Includes problems at the end of the Chapters, as well as solutions for adopters

This book is an introduction to hydrogen technology for students who have taken at least one course in general chemistry and calculus; it will also be a resource book for scientists and researchers working in hydrogen-based technologies, as well as anyone interested in sustainable energy.

K.S.V. SANTHANAM is a Professor in Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Chemistry and Materials Science.

ROMAN J. PRESS is a Visiting Researcher at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

MASSOUD J. MIRI is a Professor in Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Chemistry and Materials Science.

ALLA V. BAILEY is a Principal lecturer in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at Rochester Institute of Technology.

GERALD A. TAKACS is a Professor in School of Chemistry and Materials Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Textauszug

Chapter 1
Available Energy Resources

1.1 Civilization and the Search for Sustainable Energy

Many thousands of years ago, our ancestors knew how to produce fire and they used it for several different purposes, including warming themselves and preparing food. They discovered that energy could be liberated from burning wood. The energy-liberating material was defined as fuel, and this led to the recognition that wood is a fuel. Early civilizations depended on this fuel for a long time. To improve their living conditions, humans searched for new forms of sustainable energy. This exploration resulted in the invention of wind-driven wheels that could be used to pump water from wells. Before this discovery, water was pulled from wells by human energy. This led to a correlation that wind is a source of energy. The wheel was also found useful for transportation forming a part of a chariot that could be rotated when drawn by horses.

During the 18th century, the most commonly used forms of energy were derived from wood, water, horses, and mills. The composition and structure of these materials were mysteries, and more so how the energy was liberated from them. These mysteries led to detailed investigations into the structure of matter by numerous scientists, including J.J. Thompson, J. Dalton, M. Faraday, M. Curie, N. Bohr, A. Einstein, and J. Gibbs. This search for understanding the composition and structure of matter resulted in astounding discoveries in science, including the discovery and understanding of molecules and atoms.

The energy liberates upon combustion and products of combustion were established during this period. During the 18th century, as mentioned in the beginning of the paragraph, it was demonstrated that alcohol could be produced by the destructive distillation of wood, and that alcohol could be used as a source of energy. A realization that wood could be replaced by alcohol and that it could do the job much more effectively resulted in the use of alcohol as a source of energy. Coal was used as a source of energy for running steam engines.

In the 19th century, organic chemists synthesized hydrocarbons and determined the energies available from them. The 20th century led to the search for naturally available sources of hydrocarbons, and the discovery, that oil and natural gas contain them, paved the way for their utilization as energy sources in transportation. The rapid utilization and resulting depletion of these naturally occurring sources by mankind is leading to the search for viable alternatives. In addition, hydrocarbon-based energy sources are responsible for pollution of the atmosphere. These energy sources release carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases. Such gases are causing global warming (Section 1.3).

The 21st century is facing challenging problems, with faster depletion of fossil fuels and pollution arising from their use. Energy sources that are sustainable and producing negligible pollution are needed. In this context, hydrogen and fuel cells are being considered, but their exploration and use require policy decisions. Historically, the United States depends heavily on imported oils, and the infrastructure has been built on the imported oils and natural gases. In order to switch over to other fuels free from the restrictions discussed earlier, a smooth transitional infrastructure needs to be evolved.

A symbol of early human ingenuity is the first step pyramid, built for King Zoser in 2750 BC in Saqqará/Egypt. Similarly, the “energy pyramid” represents another advancement in human ingenuity. As the “food pyramid” represents a balanced approach to a healthy lifestyle, the energy pyramid (Figure 1.1) represents a balanced approach to consuming renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. With the gradual depletion of most nonrenewable sources of hydrocarbon-based fuels, the energy pyramid contains a diverse proportion of renewable fuels—hydro, solar, and wind power, along with various biomass-produced fuels.

Figure 1.1 Energy pyramid.

During the 19th century, hydrogen was experimented as an energy source, and Sir William Grove demonstrated in 1839 that hydrogen and oxygen would combine to produce electricity. The product of the reaction was water. He called the device a fuel cell. In this method of producing electricity, there is no pollution generated and it is environmentally friendly for transportation. These two factors are very important in the 21st century. President George W. Bush spoke of the potential of hydrogen as a future energy source in his address to the National Building Museum on February 6, 2003. He stated, “Hydrogen fuel cells represent one of the most encouraging, innovative technologies of our era,” and predicted that any obstacles in building hydrogen-based technology could be overcome by thoughtful research by scientists and engineers. This trend is continued by President Obama's administration by speeding up the hydrogen-powered transportation and energy production.

The United States is in a unique situation in its energy consumption. Growth was exponential in the second half of the 20th century. The United States consumes 25% of the world's energy supplies, which are distributed over the following four sectors: industrial commercial, transportation, and residential use (Figure 1.2). A deeper analysis shows that these four sectors showed a 300% increase in the annual usage since 1950. This trend has resulted in faster depletion of fossil fuels and greater environmental effects. Petroleum and gas reserves (fuels) are being rapidly depleted at a rate of a thousand times faster than the fuels are formed and stored. With the economic viability of the United States closely linked to fuel supplies from unstable regions around the globe, additional problems are likely to arise in the future. If domestic supplies of fuels decline, the need for importing fuels will increase. With current evidence for the imported fuel prices increasing year by year, the fuel needs and cost are likely to severely escalate in the near future.

Figure 1.2 US energy use by sector.

Increased use of fossil fuels has had negative environmental effects: oil spills endanger aquatic and plant life, contaminate beaches and soil, and cause erosion of large masses of land. It also results in global warming effects. If we wish to solve all these problems, then we have to find alternative sources of energy. Hydrogen is one of the alternative energy sources that the world could rely on safely.

Industrialized society is built on the existing infrastructure and is primarily fueled by petroleum. If fuel prices are stable, then the infrastructure requires very little change and the status quo can be maintained. Unfortunately, the status quo does not address the problems of the future. Future needs can be met only by recognizing the problems generated by petroleum-based technology and making efforts to find energy sources free from these problems. Hydrogen-based technology appears to be an ideal solution in this context.

Hydrogen-based technology offers attractive options for use in an economically and socially viable world with negligible environmental effects. Hydrogen is everywhere on earth in the form of water and hydrocarbons. In other words, hydrogen as fuel produces water as the by-product, and water is the source for hydrogen. It is an ideal energy carrier and hence could play a major role in a new decentralized infrastructure that would provide power to vehicles, homes, and industries. Hydrogen is nontoxic, renewable, clean, and provides more energy per dollar. Hydrogen is also the fuel for energy-efficient fuel cells.

Fossil fuels such as oil and gas are being currently used to harvest hydrogen. This is not ideal as it does not solve environmental issues that arise with the usage of fossil fuels. In the future, it will be necessary to use renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, biomass, and geothermal instead.

The stationary power generation based on fuel cell technology is a viable energy source and has been implemented in several places in the world. This technology provides a drastic reduction in carbon dioxide output in comparison to the existing technology.

Leading automotive companies, such as GM, Ford, Opel, Daimler-Chrysler, and Toyota, have even made significant progress in developing advanced fuel cell propulsion systems using hydrogen. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are approximately two times more efficient than gasoline engines. With 650 million vehicles worldwide fueled by gasoline, the market potential is immense. Fuel cells power modules, using either proton exchange membranes or solid oxide, can potentially be the source of distributed electric power generation for business and home use.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader to the fundamental, chemistry-based aspects of hydrogen technology. It also provides information on renewable energy, hydrogen production, and fuel cells. The latest developments and current research on alternative fuels are discussed. The core topics include acid–base chemistry, reaction topics, chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, polymers, photochemistry, and environmental chemistry. The topics covered in this text are highly relevant to current international and national concerns about overconsumption of our planet's natural resources and the political implications of the United States' dependence on foreign oil to meet the majority of its energy needs. There are many reasons to search for renewable sources of...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 29.9.2017
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Chemie ► Technische Chemie
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Elektrotechnik / Energietechnik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Umwelttechnik / Biotechnologie
• Schlagworte: advanced hydrogen systems • Alternative Fuels • applied science and technology • Batterien u. Brennstoffzellen • Batteries & Fuel Cells • chemical engineering • chemical engineers</p> • Chemie • Chemische Verfahrenstechnik • Chemistry • Elektrochemie • Energie • Energy • Engineering • Environmental Science • hydrogen-based technologies • hydrogen batteries • Hydrogen, Batteries & Fuel Cells • hydrogen development • Hydrogen fuel • Hydrogen Fuel Cells • hydrogen-fueled vehicles • hydrogen power systems • Hydrogen Production • hydrogen research • hydrogen separation techniques • hydrogen space applications • hydrogen storage • Hydrogen Storage Technology • <p>Hydrogen • Materials Science • mobile power systems • Science • scientific aspects of hydrogen technology • Sustainable energy • technical aspects of hydrogen technology • Wasserstoff • Wasserstoff, Batterien u. Brennstoffzellen
• ISBN-10: 1-119-26557-6 / 1119265576
• ISBN-13: 978-1-119-26557-3 / 9781119265573