Hydrogen 2 Essay, Research Paper

Hydrogen in it’s liquid form has been used in space vehicles for years.

Hydrogen has a high combustion energy per pound relative to any other fuel,

meaning hydrogen is more efficient on a weight basis than fuels currently used in air or ground transportation. Hydrogen is the universe’s most abundant element. Most of that hydrogen though, is tied up in chemical bonds. Hydrogen can exist in either a gaseous form or a liquid form. Hydrogen is The liquid form is usually used for storage while the gaseous form is used as a heat transfer, and also as a cooling agent in nuclear power plants. The name hydrogen is Greek for water former. Hydrogen was once called “inflammable air” by a British scientist names Joseph Priestly . French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier then renamed it to today’s name, hydrogen.

Hydrogen can be produced in many ways. Electrolysis is a common way hydrogen is produced. Electric current is passed through water which releases the lements it is made of. These elements are hydrogen and oxygen. Today’s efficiency of this method is about 65 percent, however 80-85 percent are possible with more research. Another method of producing hydrogen is through chemical means. It is a scientific fact that every metal that is less noble than hydrogen will isplace hydrogen from water . Common materials used in this reaction is sodium or potassium . Sodium plus water will produce hydrogen , NaOH, and heat . Other

reactions include the “producer” reaction that was discovered in 1800 . It involves combining heat, carbon, and water. It then yields hydrogen an carbon monoxide .

Bacteria can also be a hydrogen producer. Bacteria and other microorganisms may

release hydrogen in the process of creating heavier hydrocarbons or oxygen for

assimilation . A process known as Photoconversion or photosynthesis involves

light combining with water, which produces hydrogen and oxygen .

Hydrogen can be stored in a variety of ways. Compressed gas storage and

transportation has been widely used for more than 100 years. Common materials

for storage canisters are mild steel, aluminum, and composites. Storage pressure

for hydrogen ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 P.S.I . Cooling hydrogen to below the

boiling point of -252.7| C allows storage as a cryogenic liquid without the need for pressurization . Cryogenic storage of hydrogen allows regular commercial

shipment by truck and rail. Many commercial processes such as glass

manufacturing, brazing, heat treating, and semiconductor manufacturing are served by deliveries of liquid hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen has also facilitated the U.S. space exploration program. If liquid hydrogen is suddenly subjected to a vacuum it will evaporate with a subsequent cooling of the liquid mass will cause the temperature to fall to below the freezing point of -259| C and solid hydrogen will be produced . This mixture of liquid and solid hydrogen is called “slush” and provides more dense storage of hydrogen than liquid hydrogen. Hydrogen can also be stored in metal hydrides . Hydrogen is pumped into the interaom spaces of a granular metal. When the hydrogen needs to be released the metal is heated. This system is reliable and compact, but is very expensive.

The energy from hydrogen can be harnessed in many ways. One method of

doing this is using a fuel cell. A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy directly into electricity via a modified oxidation process . The process also produces heat, water, and carbon dioxide. By-products such as nitrous oxide and sulfur are eliminated because of the low reaction temperatures of 200| – 500| C. Fuel cells create electricity more efficient than mechanical systems because a fuel cell has no moving parts. The absence of moving parts allows them to run quietly. Fuel cells operate in reverse of electrolysis. In a fuel cell hydrogen and oxygen stream pass through porous metal plates separated in an electrolyte bath. The plates have a single connection to each other which is outside the electrolyte bath. The oxygen molecules are combined with the hydrogen modules which creates heat and water. The heat is then captured and turned into electricity.

The first fuel cell was constructed by Sir William Groves in 1839 . He

used platinum electrodes and sulfuric acid as the electrolytbath . A significant

amount of research was done in the 1920’s in Germany which laid the groundwork

for today’s fuel cells. One of the most important accomplishments in the history of fuel cells was the accomplishments of Francis T. Bacon. He developed the Bacon Cell. The Bacon Cell substitutes potassium hydroxide for the regular acid which was corrosive on the electrodes . The Bacon Cell was selected by NASA to be used in the Apollo missions and the space shuttles as the primary electrical fuel source. Fuel cells are manufactured throughout the world, including in South Windsor, Connecticut. International Fuel Cells, a subsidiary of United

Technologies, is the world’s largest manufacturer of fuel cells. This company

produced the Bacon Cell, that went into space.

Today’s gasoline engines can be fairly easily converted to run on hydrogen. The biggest cost involvement is in purchasing the tank, however in some cities they can be leased or rented. Engines can also be made to run on hydrogen initially. These would be more effective since they were built to take advantage of the fast-burn and far-lean combustion characteristics of hydrogen. Many auto makers including BMW and Mazda have already made prototype hydrogen cars, to hit the market around the year 2000 . When hydrogen pumps are developed and placed at gas stations, hydrogen will only cost about 75 cents a gallon, compared to the high prices of gasoline . There are still other uses for hydrogen. It is currently being used in stationary turbines and aircraft engines. In 1980 a propeller plane was fitted to run on hydrogen in an air show.

As the public notices the advantages of hydrogen, it popularity will

increase. Hydrogen is a clean and efficient fuel but it can be dangerous at times. Hydrogen is both flammable and buoyant. It is more flammable than gasoline or natural gas, but it dissipates more rapidly of either of these two fuels in a spill. Like all gases hydrogen should be used in a ventilated area. Since 1766 hydrogen has been a part of the world. First appearing as inflammable air” and then hydrogen. Hydrogen is a flexible material in that it can be nessed many ways and be utilized in many ways. In fact if the US beings to use solar ydrogen California, Arizona, and other sunny states would be richer than Saudi Arabia . Hydrogen will be the key source of energy for the future. As of today hydrogen is the safest and most economical way to move energy across the ocean . In fact, if we being to use hydrogen on a large-scale basis we would actually reverse the greenhouse effect. The switch to hydrogen will make the world a better place to live. The hydrogen market will cut pollution, provide cheaper transportation, and create more jobs. If safe power is the question, hydrogen is the answer.