Article 056 - The Problem With Hydrogen as a Fuel.

The Problem with Hydrogen as a Fuel

If energy levels are reduced by a global reduction in the allowed use of fossil fuels then will the use of Hydrogen as a fuel provide an alternative sustainable fuel up to 2050.

This analysis gives an ongoing framework to test that question.

Hydrogen does not occur naturally on Earth. It has to be synthesized.

This analysis uses water.

Per unit yield for Hydrogen From water by electrolysis

Molecular weight of Water           H20            = 1 + 16 = 18 grams

Molecular weight of Hydrogen         H            = 1 x 2g = 2 grams

Molecular weight of Oxygen            O            = 16 = 16 grams

As percentages                               H             = 2 / 18 = 11 %

                                                        O             = 16 /18 = 89 %

So in 1 metric ton of water                              = 1000000 g

Likely H content                                              = 110000 g

                                                                        = 0.11 metric tons of hydrogen

At a calorific value of 1 ton of hydrogen          = 39000 kwh/ton

Potential energy from H in 1 ton of water        = 39000 x 0.11

                                                                        = 4290 kwh per ton of water

                                                                        = 4,290,000 wh per ton of water

Compares to                                         

                                                                      = 1,870,000 wh per ton of coal

                                                                      = 11,666,000 wh per ton of crude oil

                                                                      = 5,300,000 wh per ton of wood

                                                                     = 3,084,000 wh per ton of

                                                                        short rotation coppice

The Hydrogen production process also needs

Electricity from fossil fuels

Electrolysis anode, cathode, connections.

A controlled seal container for at least 1 ton of water

1 ton of Water

A controlled seal container for the Hydrogen Gas measuring approx.

1,341m x 1,341m x 1,341m = 2,411,494,821 m3

Energy converters to change the Hydrogen into electrical energy.

Electrical Energy Storage Batteries

To replace the same tonnage per year of crude petroleum the amount of hydrogen needed would have to be

84,060,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Allowing 42 gallons per barrel. Allowing 7.33 barrels per metric ton

84,060,000 x 42 / 7.33

481,653,478 tons of crude oil per day

175,803,519,470 tons of crude oil per year

2,050,923,858,137,020 kWh per year

So we would need

2,050,923,858,137,020 / 4290 kWh

478,070,829,403 tons of water to get the same energy equivalent of hydrogen

by electrolysis per year.

This amount of water needs an area of approximately 1m x 700,000m x 700,000m

This amount of Hydrogen would need a storage area of approximately  52,587,791,234 m3 of hydrogen a volume of approximately of 1m x 240,000m x 240,000m

Conclusion

Hydrogen is not a sustainable fuel at our current level of technology.

Ian K Whittaker

Website:

https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles

Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com

31/10/2013

14/10/2020

441 words over 2 pages.