Hydrogen and Fuel CellsHydrogen and Fuel Cells

How is Hydrogen Produced, Delivered, How is Hydrogen Produced, Delivered, and Stored?and Stored?

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Hydrogen is #1 on the Periodic Hydrogen is #1 on the Periodic TableTable

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Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.element in the universe.

Hydrogen does not exist in nature Hydrogen does not exist in nature by itself, but it is found as part of a by itself, but it is found as part of a compound in abundant and compound in abundant and diverse resources such as the diverse resources such as the fossil fuels natural gas and coal.fossil fuels natural gas and coal.

What is the most What is the most abundantabundant compound on compound on earth?earth?

Water = HWater = H22OO

Two Hydrogen Atoms One Oxygen Atom

Electrolysis: The process of using an electrical current to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

When the electricity When the electricity needed for electrolysis is needed for electrolysis is generated using wind or generated using wind or solar power, for solar power, for example, electrolysis example, electrolysis can be a clean and can be a clean and renewable way to renewable way to produce hydrogen.produce hydrogen.

wind farm solar panels

Electrolysis

Scientists worldwide are researching ways Scientists worldwide are researching ways to produce hydrogen safely, cleanly, to produce hydrogen safely, cleanly,

efficiently, and cost-effectively.efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Steam Methane Reforming – Steam Methane Reforming – This method involves using This method involves using

high temperature steam to high temperature steam to extract hydrogen from natural extract hydrogen from natural gas.gas.

Both hydrogen and carbon Both hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced.monoxide are produced.

Today, 95% of the hydrogen Today, 95% of the hydrogen produced in the United States produced in the United States is made through steam is made through steam methane reforming.methane reforming.

Other hydrogen production technologies use Other hydrogen production technologies use various resources…various resources…

nuclear energy

algae

biological material

Challenge = CostChallenge = Cost

Hydrogen can be produced at small Hydrogen can be produced at small stations…or at large plants and stations…or at large plants and

delivered to users.delivered to users.

Hydrogen StorageHydrogen Storage

compressed hydrogen gas tank

liquid hydrogen tankmetal hydrides

carbon nanotubes

Hydrogen can be Hydrogen can be stored as a gas, stored as a gas, liquid, and even in a liquid, and even in a chemical compound.chemical compound.

The Hydrogen Storage The Hydrogen Storage Challenge:Challenge:

To store enough hydrogen on-board To store enough hydrogen on-board a vehicle to enable drivers to travel a vehicle to enable drivers to travel 300-350 miles before refueling300-350 miles before refueling

Hydrogen storage tanksHydrogen storage tanks

Hydrogen DeliveryHydrogen Delivery

Hydrogen pipelines exist only in

certain regions of the country.

Once hydrogen has been easily produced and safely stored, it can

generate electricity using a fuel cell.

HH22 + + 11//22OO22 = Water = Water

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells can Hydrogen-powered fuel cells can supply energy to power anything from supply energy to power anything from automobiles to homes to computers.automobiles to homes to computers.

Picture it…Picture it…

Hydrogen is a clean form of energy. It Hydrogen is a clean form of energy. It can be used in fuel cells to create can be used in fuel cells to create

electricity with the only byproducts being electricity with the only byproducts being water and heat.water and heat.