Thermal Processes For the Production Of Hydrogen

Thermal processes:

Natural Gas Reforming

Steam Methane Reforming

Hydrogen is produced from methane in natural gas using high-temperature steam

Methane reacts with the steam in presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen

This process accounts for about 95% of the hydrogen used today in the U.S.

Partial oxidation

Produces hydrogen by burning methane in air

Gasification

Process in which coal or biomass is converted into gaseous components by applying heat under pressure and in the presence of steam

A subsequent series of chemical reactions produces a synthesis gas which reacts with steam to produce more hydrogen that can be separated

Renewable Liquid Reforming

Biomass is processed to make renewable liquid fuels, such as ethanol or bio-oil, that are then reacted with high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen

This process is very similar to reforming natural gas

Process Of Hydrogen Production

There are three general categories of Hydrogen production

Thermal Processes

Electrolyte Processes

Photolytic Processes

i will explain these processes in later posts

Production Of Hydrogen

Production

The biggest challenge regarding hydrogen production is the cost

Reducing the cost of hydrogen production so as to compete in the transportation sector with conventional fuels on a per-mile basis is a significant hurdle to Fuel Cell's success in the commercial marketplace

Hydrogen Efficiency

Major advantage of a hydrogen fuel cell is its efficiency. An internal combustion engine uses less than 20 percent of the chemical energy in gasoline, making it a relatively inefficient process. A fuel cell, by contrast, is considerably more efficient, utilizing roughly 60 percent of the energy available in hydrogen.

Conversion Of Energy

The processes which convert energy into useful forms have limited thermodynamic efficiencies, typically only 10-40%. This means that typically 60-90% of the input energy becomes waste energy. Often significant waste materials are also produced.

Advantage Of Hydrogen Fuel

1) Environmental advantages, no or very few CO2 emmisions 2) Uncoupling of primary energy sources and utilization. 3) Hydrogen is a gas, thus easier to store than electricity. 4) Hydrogen can be obtained from any primary energy source, including renewable. 5) Decentralized production is possible. Hydrogen is viewed as capable of providing services where electricity is not available, in particular as a fuel for vehicles and energy storage in remote areas. 6) Very efficient when used in fuel cells. 7) Very good experience of hydrogen as a chemical reactant (ammonia, methanol, oil refining). 7) Very good safety records (for a specific range of applications however).

Energy Conversion Technologies & Hydrogen

• One of the fundamental principles of physics is the conservation of energy. Energy can take on many forms, and various processes convert one form into another. Thermodynamics governs these conversions. While total energy always remains the same, after most conversion processes the amount of useful energy remaining is reduced.