Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

by Sorensen (Sorensen)

• ISBN13: 9780123877093
• ISBN10: 0123877091
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-11-14
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

A hydrogen economy, in which this one gas provides the source of all energy needs, is often touted as the long-term solution to the environmental and security problems associated with fossil fuels. However, before hydrogen can be used as fuel on a global scale we must establish cost effective means of producing, storing, and distributing the gas, develop cost efficient technologies for converting hydrogen to electricity (e.g. fuel cells), and creating the infrastructure to support all this. Sorensen is the only text available that provides up to date coverage of all these issues at a level appropriate for the technical reader. The book not only describes the "how" and "where" aspects of hydrogen fuels cells usage, but also the obstacles and benefits of its use, as well as the social implications (both economically and environmental). Written by a world-renowned researcher in energy systems, this thoroughly illustrated and cross-referenced book is an excellent reference for researchers, professionals and students in the field of renewable energy. Updated sections on PEM fuel cells, Molten carbonate cells, Solid Oxide cells and Biofuel cells Updated material#xA0;to reflect the growing commercial acceptance of stationary and portable fuel cell systems, while also recognizing the ongoing research in automotive fuel cell systems A#xA0;new example of a regional system based on renewable energy sources reflects the growing international attention to uses of renewable energy as part of the energy grid Examples of life cycle analysis of environmental and social impacts

Author Biography

Dr. Bent Srensen is professor emeritus of physics at Roskilde University (Denmark) and president of Novator Advanced Technology Consulting. He has held posts at University of California at Berkeley, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Yale University (USA), as well as Kyoto University (Japan), University of Grenoble (France) and University of New South Wales (Australia). He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious European Solar Prize.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. v
Contents	p. vii
Units and conversion factors	p. xii
Introduction	p. 1
Possible role of fuel cells and hydrogen	p. 1
Hydrogen	p. 5
Production of hydrogen	p. 5
Steam reforming	p. 6
Partial oxidation, autothermal and dry reforming	p. 10
Water electrolysis: reverse fuel cell operation	p. 11
Gasification and woody biomass conversion	p. 21
Biological hydrogen production	p. 26
Photosynthesis, Bio-hydrogen production pathways, Hydrogen production by purple bacteria, Fermentation and other processes in the dark, Industrial-scale production of bio-hydrogen
Photodissociation	p. 43
Direct thermal or catalytic splitting of water	p. 50
Issues related to scale of production	p. 51
Centralised hydrogen production	p. 51
Distributed hydrogen production	p. 52
Vehicle on-board fuel reforming	p. 52
Production of methanol, Methanol-to-hydrogen conversion
Hydrogen conversion overview	p. 59
Uses as an energy carrier	p. 59
Uses, as an energy storage medium	p. 60
Combustion uses	p. 60
Stationary fuel cell uses	p. 64
Fuel cell uses for transportation	p. 64
Direct uses	p. 64
Hydrogen storage options	p. 65
Compressed gas storage	p. 66
Liquid hydrogen storage	p. 70
Hydride storage	p. 71
Chemical thermodynamics, Metal hydrides, Complex hydrides, Modelling metal hydrides Cryo-adsorbed gas storage in carbon materials	p. 89
Other chemical storage options	p. 90
Comparing storage options	p. 90
Hydrogen transmission	p. 92
Container transport	p. 92
Pipeline transport	p. 93
Problems and discussion topics	p. 94
Fuel cells	p. 95
Basic concepts	p. 95
Electrochemistry and thermodynamics of fuel cells	p. 95
Electrochemical device definitions, Fuel cells
Modelling aspects	p. 106
Quantum chemistry approaches	p. 111
Hartree-Fock approximation, Basis sets and molecular orbitals, Higher interactions and excited states: Møller-Plesset perturbation theory or density function phenome-nological approach ?
Application to water splitting or fuel cell performance at a metal surface	p. 122
Flow and diffusion modelling	p. 135
The temperature factor	p. 139
Molten carbonate cells	p. 140
Solid oxide cells	p. 143
Acid and alkaline cells	p. 158
Proton exchange membrane cells	p. 163
Current collectors and gas delivery system	p. 165
Gas diffusion layers	p. 169
Membrane layer	p. 175
Catalyst action	p. 181
Overall performance	p. 186
High-temperature and reverse operation	p. 187
Degradation and lifetime	p. 190
Direct methanol and other non-hydrogen cells	p. 191
Biofuel cells	p. 197
Problems and discussion topics	p. 200
Systems	p. 201
Passenger cars	p. 201
Overall system options for passenger cars	p. 201
PEM fuel cell cars	p. 204
Performance simulation	p. 207
Other road vehicles	p. 225
Ships, trains and airplanes	p. 228
Power plants and stand-alone systems	p. 233
Building-integrated systems	p. 236
Portable and other small-scale systems	p. 240
Problems and discussion topics	p. 244
Implementation scenarios	p. 245
Infrastructure requirements	p. 245
Storage infrastructure	p. 245
Transmission infrastructure	p. 248
Local distribution	p. 249
Filling stations	p. 250
Building-integrated concepts	p. 25l
Safety and norm issues	p. 252
Safety concerns	p. 252
Safety requirements	p. 255
National and international standards	p. 259
Scenarios based on fossil energy	p. 260
Scenario techniques and demand modelling	p. 260
Global clean fossil scenario	p. 270
Clean fossil technologies, Fossil resource considerations, The fossil scenario, Evaluation of the clean fossil scenario
Scenarios based on nuclear energy	p. 294
History and present concerns	p. 294
Safe nuclear technologies	p. 297
Inherently safe designs, Technical details of energy amplifier, Nuclear resources assessment, Safe nuclear scenario construction, Evaluation of the safe nuclear scenario
Scenarios based on renewable energy	p. 317
Global renewable energy scenarios	p. 318
Detailed national renewable energy scenario	p. 323
Danish energy demand in 2050, Available renewable resources, Construction of 2050 scenarios for Denmark, Centralised scenario, Decentralised scenario, Assessment of renewable energy scenarios
New regional scenarios	p. 353
Problems and discussion topics	p. 359
Social implications	p. 361
Cost expectations	p. 361
Hydrogen production costs	p. 361
Fuel cell costs	p. 362
Hydrogen storage costs	p. 368
Infrastructure costs	p. 368
System costs	p. 369
Life-cycle analysis of environmental and social impacts 372
Purpose and methodology of life-cycle analysis	p. 373
Life-cycle analysis of hydrogen production	p. 375
Conventional production by steam reforming, Production by electrolysis, Direct bio-production of hydrogen from cyanobacteria or algae, Impacts from use of genetically engineered organisms, Hydrogen from fermentation of biomass
Life-cycle analysis of fuel cells	p. 381
SOFCs and MCFCs, PEM fuel cells
Life-cycle comparison of conventional passenger car and passenger car with fuel cells	p. 384
Environmental impact analysis, Social and economic impact analysis, Overall assessment
Life-cycle assessment of other vehicles for transportation	p. 396
Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen storage and infrastructure	p. 398
Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen systems	p. 399
Uncertainties	p. 400
Problems and discussion topics	p. 401
Conclusion: a conditional outcome	p. 403
Opportunities	p. 403
Obstacles	p. 405
The competition	p. 407
The way forward	p. 417
Hydrogen storage in renewable energy systems	p. 417
Fuel cell vehicles	p. 418
Building-integrated fuel cells	p. 420
Fuel cells in portable equipment	p. 421
Fuel cells in centralised power production	p. 422
Efficiency considerations	p. 423
How much time do we have?	p. 428
The end, and a beginning	p. 432
References	p. 435
Index	p. 483
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