The Hydrogen Economy
Infrastructure Creation and End Use
Application
Jorge Plaza
Scott Owens
ChE 384
November 21, 2006
The Hydrogen Economy: It’s going
to be a blast!!!!
CO2 Emissions by Source (1998)
500
MMTCE
400
300
200
100
0
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Why H2ICE?
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ICE is a mature technology
Near zero emissions
High thermal efficiency



Very tunable combustion



LHV: H2=120 MJ/Kg; Gasoline=43 MJ/Kg
H2 DI ICE is capable of 115% of the power of
gas ICE
LEL/UEL(Vol%): H2=4/75; Gasoline =1/7.6
Highly integrated designs possible
Safe
Variable Compression Ratios
Safety
Why NOT H2ICE?

One word - STORAGE:
Mass H2
Temp
Press
(K)
(MPa)
1 Kg
3.3 Kg
Atmos
80
25
25
Vol
EE Gas
(Gal [L])
16 [60]
1 gal
16 [60] 3.3 gal*
*lasts for 3 wks in tank.
Why NOT H2ICE?

Storage Alternatives:


Alloy Hydrides
Sodium Borohydride


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Liquid (infrastructure)
High purity H2
Non-Flammable
Cost ($80/kg)
Weight (7wt% loading)
Recycle
wt%
hydroge
n
Material
H-Atoms per cm3
(x 1022)
H2 gas, 200 bar (2850 psi)
.99
100
H2 liquid, 20 K (-253 C)
4.2
100
H2
5.3
100
MgH2
6.5
7.6
Mg2NiH4
5.9
3.6
FeTiH2
6.0
1.89
LaNi5H6
5.5
1.37
The Future Scenario
The Future Scenario

Production


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Similar timelines for Europe and US.
Faster track for Europe.
DOE expects feasibility determinations by 2015
Transition period where fossil fuels play major role.
2050 Europe – “de-carbonized” economy
2050 Centralized Production
The Future Scenario

Storage

Solid Storage for small devices.

Underground gaseous storage

2050: Carbon structures for storage.
The Future Scenario

Transportation

Partial use of the natural gas grid reduces
costs by 2010

Better liquefaction technology allows for
trucks and ships

Interconnected local grids by 2030
Current Status

Production

40 million tons/ year
Mainly natural gas reforming, coal gasification,
water electrolysis.
 95% SMR in the US


Steam Methane Reforming



Water + Methane feedstock
Readily available
Transition process
Current Status

Steam Methane Reforming



Dependent on natural gas prices
Connected to CO2 Sequestration
Optimization:
Carbon/steam ratio
 Higher steam outlet temperature
 Catalysts
 Process configurations

Current Status

Partial Oxidation

Uses oxygen to convert into CO and H2

Expensive due to oxygen costs

High operating temperatures

Improvements in gas separation membranes
may lower costs
Current Status

AutoThermal Reforming

Blend of Partial Oxidation and SMR

Very efficient process (93.9% theory)

Smaller plants, faster start time

Less mature technology

Improvement in reactor design

More resistant catalysts
Current Status

Coal Gasification

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Endothermic gasification
No NOx concerns – low oxygen environment
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle

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Electricity and Hydrogen
Efficiencies around 42% with hopes to 60%
US Energy independence

FutureGen Project

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Site selection by 2007
Online by 2012
Current Status
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Coal Gasification
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Challenges
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CO2 sequestration
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Price dynamics
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Supply structure
Alkaline Electrolysis
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Alkaline solution as electrolyte
Current Status
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Alkaline Electrolysis
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Efficiencies, lifetime and costs.
High Temperature and pressure electrolyzers
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

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Recent technology
Polymer membrane as electrolyte
Operation at high pressures
High cost of membranes and electrodes
Current Status
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Biomass Production
Current Status
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Solar and Nuclear
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Low peak generation
Sulfur – Iodine Process
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Solar heat source
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High temperature water splitting.
Depend on development of Generation IV Nuclear reactors
New materials for high temperature and corrosion resistance.
Costs are not permissive
Expected to be viable towards 2030

Storage
Method
Current Status
Description
Liquid hydrogen •Available technology
•Use compressors and Heat
exchangers
Challenges
•High compression costs
•Prevention of boil-off
Compressed
Gas
•Available Technology
•Use of caverns for large scale
long timeframe
•Compression costs for
vessel storage
•Inefficient unloading
Metal Hydride
•Chemically bonded hydrogen
•High pressure release
•Infant technology
•Hydride storage
capacity
•Hydride stability
Current Status

Transportation
Method
Description
Liquid hydrogen •Double wall insulated tanks
•Trucks and barges or ships
Challenges
•Cost
•Boil-off rates
Compressed
Gas
•Mainly pipelines
•May use part of the natural gas
infrastructure
•Operational and capital
costs
•Hydrogen embrittlement
Metal Hydride
•Containers with the hydride are
switched or unloaded at site.
•Cost of the containers
for hydride transportation
Conclusions
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Strong need for a clear public policy
Further optimization of available
technologies is required
Work is needed in the whole hydrogen
supply infrastructure
“No silver bullet” . Hydrogen is an option
First sight around 2020.
References
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Amendola, S.C., Sharp-Goldman, S.L., Janjua, M.S., et al. “A safe, portable, hydrogen gas generator using aqueous
borohydride solution and Ru catalyst.” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 25. Elsevier Science Ltd, 2000.
http://www.obitet.gazi.edu.tr/makale/internalcombustionengines/021.pdf
Amos W. “Cost of Storing and Transporting Hydrogen”. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-570-25106. November
1998.
Becker, Laura. “Hydrogen Storage.” CSA, Materials Information: Metals, Engineered Materials, Aluminum Industry and Corrosion
Abstracts. 2001. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/hydrogen/overview.php
Brusstar, M., Stuhldreher, M., Swain, D. “High Efficiency and Low Emissions from a Port Injected Engine with Neat Alcohol
Fuels.” United States EPA and Society of Automotive Engineers. 2002.
http://www.epa.gov/OMS/presentations/sae-2002-01-2743.pdf
Chen T. “Investigation of Catalytic Autothermal Reforming Process for Hydrogen Production”. Proceedings of the Taiwan Tech Trek
2005 Academic Conference. Taipei, Taiwan.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); United States Department of Energy.
A. “Fact #415: March 13, 2006 - Changes in Vehicles per Capita around the World.” 2006.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2006_fcvt_fotw415.html
B. “hydrogen Infrastructure and Technologies Program” 2006. http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/production/
Foster Wheeler. “Hydrogen Plants for the New Millennium”. Presented at the Middle East PETROTECH 2001. Bahrain, October 2931 2001.
Green Car Congress. “The Arguments for hydrogen Combustion Engines.” 2006.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/09/the_arguments_f.html
International Energy Agency – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development “Prospects for Hydrogen and
Fuel Cells”. 2005
Mawdsley J., Ferrandon M. Rossignol C., Ralph J., Miller L., Kopasz J., Krause T. “Catalyst for Autothermal Reforming” FY
2003 Progress Report. Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies. Argonne National Laboratory.
References Cont’d
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Powers, Laurie. “Flexibly Fueled Storage Tank Brings hydrogen Powered Cars Closer to Reality.” Lawrence Livermore National Lab
(LLNL), Department of Energy 2003. http://www.llnl.gov/str/June03/Aceves.html
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Roberts, Paul. The End of Oil. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, MA. 2004.
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Rochelle, G.T., “Presentation Made to Prospective Grad Students, 2005.”
http://www.engr.utexas.edu/che/students/graduate/05_graduate_presentations/Rochelle.ppt
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Schatz Energy Research Center, Humboldt State University. “Development of a PEM Electrolyzer: Enabling Seasonal Storage of
Renewable Energy –Feasibility and Final Energy Innovations Small Grant Report” Prepared for the California Energy Commission. May
2005
Sandia National Lab, United States Department of Energy.
A. hydrogen Research Program
http://www.ca.sandia.gov/hydrogen/index.html
B. Combustion Research Facility
http://www.ca.sandia.gov/crf/research/combustionEngines/PFI.php
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Swain, M.R. “Fuel Leak Simulation.” University of Miami. Presented at:Proceedings of the 2001 DOE hydrogen Program Review, 2001.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/30535be.pdf
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Turner J. “Sustainable Hydrogen Production” Science 13 August 2004: Vol. 305. no. 5686, pp. 972 – 974.
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U.S Department of Energy “A National Vision of America’s Transition to a Hydrogen Economy – To 2030 and Beyond”. Based on the
results of the National Hydrogen Vision Meeting.
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US Department of Energy “Project Update: November 2006. FutureGen – A Sequestration and Hydrogen Research Initiative” found at
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/
References Cont’d
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www.lindegas.com/International/Web/LG/COM/likelgcom30.nsf/DocByAlias/ind_pox
http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/8HydrogenProduc
tionCoal.pdf
www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/6HydrogenProductionSt
eamMethaneReforming.pdf
http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/5HydrogenProduc
tionOverview.pdf
http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/7HydrogenProduc
tionNuclear.pdf
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060131-6.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/03/16/hydrogen.cars/
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/gasification/howgasif
icationworks.html
http://www.ca.sandia.gov/hydrogen/research/production/electrolysis.html
http://www.chewonkih2.org/docs/PEM%20vs%20Alkaline.pdf
http://www.princeton.edu/~benziger/PEMFC.pdf