Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel which uses electrochemical cells, or combustion
in internal engines, to power vehicles and electric devices. It is also used in
the propulsion of spacecraft and can potentially be mass-produced and
commercialized for passenger vehicles and aircraft.
Hydrogen lies in the first group and first period in the periodic
table, i.e. it is the first element on the periodic table, making it the
lightest element in the universe. Hydrogen is neither a metal nor a non metal
but still is considered as non metal. It acts as a metal when compressed to
high densities.
Since hydrogen gas is so light, it rises in the atmosphere
and is therefore rarely found in its pure form, H2.[1]
In a flame of pure hydrogen gas, burning in air, the hydrogen (H2)
reacts with oxygen
(O2) to form water (H2O) and releases heat.
2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(g)
If carried out in atmospheric air instead of pure oxygen (as
is usually the case), hydrogen combustion may yield small amounts of nitrogen oxides, along
with the water vapor.
Combustion heat enables hydrogen to act as a fuel.
Nevertheless, hydrogen is an energy
carrier, like electricity, not an energy resource. Energy firms must first
produce the hydrogen gas, and that production induces environmental impacts.
Hydrogen production always requires more energy than can be retrieved from the
gas as a fuel later on. This is a limitation of the physical law of the conservation of energy.
Production
Because pure hydrogen does not occur naturally, it takes a
substantial amount of energy in its industrial production. There are different
ways to produce it, such as electrolysis and steam-methane
reforming process. In electrolysis, electricity is run through water to
separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This method can use wind, solar,
geothermal, hydro, fossil fuels, biomass, and many other resources. Obtaining
hydrogen from this process is being studied as a viable way to produce it
domestically at a low cost. Steam-methane reforming, the current leading
technology for producing hydrogen in large quantities,[4]
extracts the hydrogen from methane. However, this reaction causes a side production of carbon
dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are greenhouse
gases and contribute to global
warming.
Energy
Once manufactured, hydrogen is an energy
carrier (i.e. a store for energy first generated by other means). The
energy can be delivered to fuel cells and generate electricity and heat, or
burned to run a combustion engine. In each case hydrogen is combined with
oxygen to form water. The heat in a hydrogen flame is a radiant emission from the
newly formed water molecules. The water molecules are in an excited
state on initial formation and then transition to a ground
state; the transition unleashing thermal
radiation. When burning in air, the temperature is roughly 2000°C.
Historically, carbon has literally been the carrier of hydrogen as more
hydrogen is packed in fossil fuels than pure liquid hydrogen of the same
amount. The carbon atoms have classic storage capabilities and also adds more
energy output when burned with hydrogen. However, burning carbon base fuel and
releasing its exhaust has produced too much global warming due to the
greenhouse effect of carbon gases. Pure hydrogen is the smallest element and
some of it will inevitably escape from any known container or pipe in micro
amounts, yet simple ventilation could prevent such leakage from ever reaching
the volatile 4% hydrogen-air mixture. So long as the product is in a gaseous or
liquid state, pipes are a classic and very efficient form of transportation.
Pure hydrogen, though, causes metal to become more brittle, thus metal pipes
might require a little more maintenance in the long run.
Potentially, there is plenty of wind power to supply all of
the world's electrical demand. Once the construction cost of a windmill is paid
off, very little maintenance cost is required and the energy is practically
free. Although electricity can be delivered over long distances, large amounts
of electricity cannot be stored and must be generated as they are needed; this
requires complex distribution networks and management processes. This is where hydrogen
can act as a good carrier. With electrolysis,
electricity can affect the extraction of hydrogen and oxygen from water with a
little loss of energy in process. Then the hydrogen can be conveyed over long
distances by means of the appropriate pipework and reconverted into electricity
afterwards. A greater quantity of hydrogen can be delivered while bonded to
carbon in fossil fuel form, whereby micro-leakage and metal embrittlement will
be avoided.
Uses
Hydrogen fuel can provide motive
power for cars, boats and airplanes, portable fuel cell applications or stationary fuel cell applications,
which can power an electric motor.
With regard to safety from unwanted explosions, hydrogen
fuel in automotive vehicles is at least as safe as gasoline.
One group that claims to "nurture nature" is in
the process of developing small power plants fueled by hydrogen and pure
oxygen. They call their project "The Rainbow Solution" [to future
energy needs]. They address the safety of hydrogen fuel by using small,
stationary plants, burning the hydrogen immediately after production, and using
several small sources.
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