Hydrogen is a very light gas; its density is eight times less than that of natural gas. There are no significant problems with regard to storage, transportation, dispensation as well as end use of hydrogen.
Hydrogen as an Alternative Future Source of Energy:
Hydrogen is either produced through the steam reformation of natural gas or through electrolysis of water with renewable energies such as solar, wind or geothermal. By burning fossil fuels more than 90% of the world’s energy requirement is met. This leads to emissions of carbon dioxide, which is responsible for the green house effect and therefore responsible for the warming of our planet.
Global warming at accelerated rates is inevitable if we do not reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. A hydrogen based transport system has the potential to play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To propel vehicles, the hydrogen can be burnt directly in either internal combustion engines (ICEs), or used as a fuel for producing electricity in fuel cells. The electricity is produced by an electro-chemical reaction. The electric power is then used to power an electric motor in the vehicle.
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Fuel cell driven vehicles have great potential to be more efficient and ecofriendly than conventional fuel driven vehicles. The vehicles will emit only steam but no green-house gas. Hydrogen is considered as a secondary source of energy (or energy carrier). Electricity is also energy carrier. They are used to move, store and deliver energy in a form that can be easily used.
Advantages of Hydrogen
Advantages of hydrogen as an important energy carrier in the future
(i) Easy storage:
A large volume of hydrogen can be easily stored in a number of different ways.
(ii) High efficiency:
Hydrogen is considered as a highly efficient fuel.
(iii) Pollution free:
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Hydrogen is a pollution free fuel.
(iv) Various applications:
It can be used for transportation, heating and power generations in places where it is difficult to use electricity.
(v) Economical:
It is less costly to ship hydrogen by pipeline than sending electricity over long distances by wire in some instances.
Disadvantages of Hydrogen Energy:
The use of hydrogen as an alternative future source of energy is limited by
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(i) Its low availability in pure H2form in the environment.
(ii) Difficulty in handling, storing and transportation of H2.
(iii) Requirement of energy for the production of H2.
The Future Applications of Hydrogen
(i) As energy carrier:
Hydrogen will join electricity as an important energy carrier in the future. This is because it can be made safely from renewable energy sources and is virtually non-polluting.
(ii) Electricity production:
Hydrogen will be used to produce electricity in fuel cells.
(iii) As a fuel:
Hydrogen will be used as a fuel for ‘zero-emissions’ vehicles, and for aircraft.
(iv) In heating:
Hydrogen will also be used to heat offices and homes.
Infrastructure:
Many new facilities and systems must be built before hydrogen can play a bigger role and become a widely used alternative to gasoline.
1. Use a wind electrolysis system to produce hydrogen.
2. Use compressor, to compress hydrogen up to pipe line pressure.
3. Fed compressed hydrogen to a transmission pipeline.
4. The pipeline transports the hydrogen to a compressed gas terminal for its compression and loading in compressed gas tube trailors.
5. Delivery of compressed gas tube trailors using trucks to a forecourt station.
6. Further compression of hydrogen in forecourt station.
7. Storage and dispension of hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles.