The Hydrogen Economy

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The Hydrogen Economy
Infrastructure Creation and End Use Application

• Jorge Plaza
• Scott Owens
• ChE 384
• November 21, 2006

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The Hydrogen Economy Its going to be a blast!!!!
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(No Transcript)
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Why H2ICE?

• ICE is a mature technology
• Near zero emissions
• High thermal efficiency
• LHV H2120 MJ/Kg Gasoline43 MJ/Kg
• H2 DI ICE is capable of 115 of the power of gas
  ICE
• Very tunable combustion
• LEL/UEL(Vol) H24/75 Gasoline 1/7.6
• Highly integrated designs possible
• Safe

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Variable Compression Ratios
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Safety
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Why NOT H2ICE?

• One word - STORAGE

Mass H2 Temp (K) Press (MPa) Vol (Gal L) EE Gas
1 Kg Atmos 25 16 60 1 gal
3.3 Kg 80 25 16 60 3.3 gal
lasts for 3 wks in tank.
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Why NOT H2ICE?
Material H-Atoms per cm3 (x 1022) wt hydrogen
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

• Storage Alternatives
• Alloy Hydrides
• Sodium Borohydride
• Liquid (infrastructure)
• High purity H2
• Non-Flammable
• Cost (80/kg)
• Weight (7wt loading)
• Recycle

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The Future Scenario
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The Future Scenario

• Production
• 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

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The Future Scenario

• Storage
• Solid Storage for small devices.
• Underground gaseous storage
• 2050 Carbon structures for storage.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Current Status

• Coal Gasification
• Endothermic gasification
• No NOx concerns low oxygen environment
• Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle
• Electricity and Hydrogen
• Efficiencies around 42 with hopes to 60
• US Energy independence
• FutureGen Project
• Site selection by 2007
• Online by 2012

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Current Status

• Coal Gasification
• Challenges
• CO2 sequestration
• Price dynamics
• Supply structure
• Alkaline Electrolysis
• Alkaline solution as electrolyte

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Current Status

• Alkaline Electrolysis
• Efficiencies, lifetime and costs.
• High Temperature and pressure electrolyzers
• Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
• Recent technology
• Polymer membrane as electrolyte
• Operation at high pressures
• High cost of membranes and electrodes

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Current Status

• Biomass Production

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Current Status

• Solar and Nuclear
• Low peak generation
• Sulfur Iodine Process
• High temperature water splitting.
• Depend on development of Generation IV Nuclear
  reactors
• New materials for high temperature and corrosion
  resistance.
• Solar heat source
• Costs are not permissive
• Expected to be viable towards 2030

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Current Status

• Storage

Method Description Challenges
Liquid hydrogen Available technology Use compressors and Heat exchangers 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
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Current Status

• Transportation

Method Description Challenges
Liquid hydrogen Double wall insulated tanks Trucks and barges or ships 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
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Conclusions

• 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.

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References

• 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
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  Hydrogen. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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• Becker, Laura. Hydrogen Storage. CSA,
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• Brusstar, M., Stuhldreher, M., Swain, D. High
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References Contd

• 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/st
  r/June03/Aceves.html
• Roberts, Paul. The End of Oil. Houghton Mifflin
  Company. Boston, MA. 2004.
• Rochelle, G.T., Presentation Made to Prospective
  Grad Students, 2005. http//www.engr.utexas.edu/c
  he/students/graduate/05_graduate_presentations/Roc
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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
  Programhttp//www.ca.sandia.gov/hydrogen/index.ht
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  sandia.gov/crf/research/combustionEngines/PFI.php
  
• Swain, M.R. Fuel Leak Simulation. University
  of Miami. Presented atProceedings of the 2001
  DOE hydrogen Program Review, 2001.
  http//www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/p
  dfs/30535be.pdf
• Turner J. Sustainable Hydrogen Production
  Science 13 August 2004 Vol. 305. no. 5686, pp.
  972 974.
• U.S Department of Energy A National Vision of
  Americas Transition to a Hydrogen Economy To
  2030 and Beyond. Based on the results of the
  National Hydrogen Vision Meeting.
• US Department of Energy Project Update November
  2006. FutureGen A Sequestration and Hydrogen
  Research Initiative found at http//www.fossil.en
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References Contd

• www.linde-gas.com/International/Web/LG/COM/likelgc
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• http//www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems
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• http//www.chewonkih2.org/docs/PEM20vs20Alkaline
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• http//www.princeton.edu/benziger/PEMFC.pdf