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Hydrogen and Future US Energy Supplies

Prof. Mahdi Abu-Omar

Chemistry Department

CoBank 2008 Energy and Water Executive ForumAugust 12, 2008

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Global Energy Consumption

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Oil Coal Gas Nuclear HydroRenew

% G

loba

l prim

ary

ener

gy

con

sum

ptio

n

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Climate Change

Annual CO2 release

petroleumnatural gascoalhuman

Source: Carbon Dioxide Info Analysis Center

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Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

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US Energy Flow

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Major oil trade movements

BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2007

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US Oil Imports in 2006

Country/Region Million tons Percent (%)

Central & South America 133.1 20.5

Middle East 113.2 17.5

Canada 113.6 17.5

Mexico 84.4 13.0

Norway 54.0 8.3

Africa 131.5 20.3

Old Russia 17.9 2.8

Total 647.7 100

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Need to produce liquid fuel

Renewable & Sustainable

Biofuels• Administration sets

renewable motor vehicle (liquid) fuel goal to 7.5 billion gal by 2012.

• In 2006, the U.S. produced 4.1 billion gal of bioethanol: 2% of gasoline use and 1/6 of corn crop.

• All of Texas (262,000 square miles) needs to be planted with corn to provide ca. 40% of our transportation fuel need!

Source: C&E News April 16, 2007, p. 34.

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C

H

H

O2O C O H

O

H

A Fuel

Carbon dioxideH H

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The Element Hydrogen

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H2 & Its Abundance• Physical Properties:

– Density = 0.0899 g/L (cf. water = 1000 g/L)

– Boiling point = -423 °F (-253 ° C)

– Melting point = -434 ° F (-259 ° C)

– Coldest temp in Antarctica (7/21/1983) = -129 ° F (-89 ° C)

– Flash point = -423 ° F

• Abundance:– Most abundant element in the known

Universe.

– 7th in the Earth’s crust & 3rd in organisms.

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Forms of Hydrogen on Earth

• Not as hydrogen (H2) gas.

• Lots and lots in compounds:– Water H2O

– Natural gas CH4

– Gasoline -(CH2)n-

– Ammonia NH3

– Biomass

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Challenges

SourceUtilization

SafetyStorage

RenewableNoncarbon

Solid stateChemical

Fuel Cell

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Safety is Important

Hindenburg at Lakehurst, NY on 5/6/1937

Iron oxide & aluminum paint!

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The Hydrogen Economy: Fiction or Science?

• President Bush has made the development of a hydrogen economy a major priority. (June 2003, www.whitehouse.gov)

• Providing a cleaner and more secure energy future through hydrogen fuel technology. (President Bush’s technology agenda, June 2004).

Our economy already uses/relies on hydrogen tremendously!!

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Best Source of Hydrogen

CH4 + H2O CO + 3H2

H2O

CO2 + H2

N2Ammonia (NH3)

CO2

Urea

fertilizersmedicines

explosives

syn gas

methanol

DME

diesel

19 million tons per year in the U.S. alone

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Challenges

SourceUtilization

SafetyStorage

RenewableNoncarbon

Solid stateChemical

Fuel Cell

Conclusion

• We are all going to DIE!

There is hope!• [Genesis]: “(1) In the

beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  (2) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

•  (3) And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.”

14 TW/yearEnergy from sunlight in 1 hour1.76 x 105 TW/year

Solar Conversion to Fuel

Light

Photosynthesis

Fuels Electricity

Photovoltaics

H O

O H

2

22

Sc & Cat. M

eCO

Sugar

H O

O

2

2

2

Semiconductor/Catalyst

sc

e

M

Heat

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NuclearSolar

Wind

H2O

Biomass

Fossil fuel

Natural gas

Coal

H2

Production Storage

H2

Fuel Cells(Automotive)

Electronics

Stationary(electricity/heat)

Use

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Water is the Ultimate Source

air Fuel

Oxygen Hydrogen Water

O 2HO2H 222

• Electrolysis ($?)• Chemical splitting• Solar & bioinspired

I2 + SO2 + 2H2O 2HI + H2SO4

2HI I2 + H2

2H2SO4 2SO2 + 2H2O + O2

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NuclearSolar

Wind

H2O

Biomass

Fossil fuel

Natural gas

Coal

Sources

Novel chemistry that makepolluting sources green

24 2H C CH

Natural gas

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Challenges

SourceUtilization

SafetyStorage

RenewableNoncarbon

Solid stateChemical

Fuel Cell

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A BIG Challenge• Density of H2 = 0.0899 g/L

(cf. water = 1000 g/L).• Towing a football field is not

practical!• Hydrogen pipeline?• High pressure!!

5000 – 10,000 psi

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DOE Road Map

Solar

H2O

Biomass

H2

StorageThe Big Challenge

Liquid Fuel

Need to produce liquid fuel

CO2

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Challenges

SourceUtilization

SafetyStorage

RenewableNoncarbon

Solid stateChemical

Fuel Cell

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Utilizing Hydrogen as a Fuel

• 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

• Isooctane (C8H18) + O2 → CO2 + H2O

• Combustion of hydrogen is not efficient.

• Fuel Cell technology:– PEM (Proton Exchange

Membrane)

Nafion 100W-500kW

70-120 °C 30-50% (system)

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Fuel Cell Stack

GM Equinox designed to last 50,000 miles

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Research in Fuel CellsFuel Cell Cost Membrane

CatalystGas diffusion layerElectrodes

41%

• Catalyst is expensive!– 180 g Pt in ~150 kW

• Can we learn from nature and devise cheap catalysts?• Membrane research to manage water.

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Present & Future ProspectsHonda’s Hydrogen Home Energy Station (2005)

Uses natural gas (CH4) Mini reformer station Some storage capacity

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CIS Tower in Manchester

In Hong Kong

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Photosynthesis

Electricity

H O

O H

2

22

Sc & Cat. M

e

sc M

H2

CO2

orbiomass

Liquid Fuel

C

H

H

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