Yes, we can convert to a hydrogen economy. roll your eyes at me. It is true. A complete conversion to a hydrogen economy is possible in the near future. As the (perhaps ask) is? Well, we need an interim solution. I'm sure most of you already know how fuel cells work, but for those who do not, let me explain very quickly ...
There are many cell types, but the most common is a proton exchange membrane or PEM fuel cell. This type of fuel used mostly hydrogen but also other types of fuel can also be used (such as methanol, ethanol, etc.). When methanol or ethanol is used, the name of the fuel cell changes to "direct methanol fuel cell" or "direct ethanol fuel cell." Now, hydrogen is the fuel cell and a platinum / carbon catalyst breaks the hydrogen into protons and electrons supplied. Since protons and electrons charged particles, they can not exist for very long in nature because they are unstable. Everything in nature moves toward neutralization or a balance of energies. For example, if something is very hot in nature, the heat is distributed over the surface, and finally the temperature is very hot object equals the temperature of the environment.
In the case of ions, positively and negatively charged molecules can not survive very long without combining with another molecule to make it stable. Let us now come back into the discussion at hand - so in the fuel cell, hydrogen is split into protons and electrons. Normally, protons and electrons can not be possible to remain in the ionic form of very long, but because the platinum / carbon catalyst is linked layer on the membrane persulfonzuren acid, the hydrogen protons to travel to the situation through the membrane to the cathode side of the fuel cell. In the meantime, moved down the electrons around the hydrogen flow field plate, which is also against the fuel cell and is highly conductive. The electrons are then removed from the fuel cell catalyst layer to power the load. The protons that are more than a trip to the cathode through the membrane then combine with oxygen in the fuel cell and create water. Interesting stuff, right?
Colleen Okay, how a fuel cell works is interesting, but how to convert the hydrogen economy? Well, first I had to explain how the hydrogen is actually used - and now I will, as our current economy can be converted to a hydrogen atom to get. Yes, you know where hydrogen currently? There are a lot of information out there, how fuel cells work, the benefits of fuel cells, and how we could better with them. But often these items in the difficult situation have to discuss where it comes from the hydrogen get. Well, how many of you probably know, not the hydrogen on this planet in a pure gas available. It is found everywhere in nature, but it is combined with other elements to other types of molecules. Therefore, the hydrogen must be produced.
Many of you may not like it (and I say crawl at), but most of the hydrogen currently produced is made from petroleum-derived fuels. Aha (you say)! I knew there was a catch this! Okay, okay, okay I admit it - it looks like a difficult situation. But at least we now have a way that hydrogen is produced. At first glance, this might not be better than our current solution - but it is. The reason why this is a better solution as it can, using different methods. The temporary solution for converting to a hydrogen economy would be petroleum-based fuels and the use of coal. Now you might think - this person should be completely out of balance! Well, speaking from the perspective of an engineer, coal is not as bad as a transitional solution. There are many reasons why I say this:
1. Experts estimate that only 30 years rely on petroleum-based fuels on the planet.
2. In the United States alone is estimated that 300 years we have fuel from coal, which can be used.
3. Countries, the use of their resources can be more independent coal, stronger and richer than countries that rely on petroleum-based fuels.
4. The Clean Coal Technologies program in the U.S. (founded 1986), has created numerous technologies for pollution caused by coal processing commercialized. Coal is no longer the "dirty fuel" that was it.
5. There are already many coal processing plants in the United States and many parts of the world. In the United States reached half of its electricity from coal. Therefore, no new plants are built. Can we produce plants that generate electricity and hydrogen. An ongoing project that this concept is the FutureGen project, funded by the U.S. government and the private sector.
Okay, say "that's nice." Why generate produce for all users, make the effort to make hydrogen from petroleum-based fuels and coal? Well, it's a good question. Our oil and coal are limited. A much better solution for future generations would be with pure hydrogen. Yes, you can ask what are the other manufacturing processes to produce hydrogen? Well, there are many different fuels and methods to be used, in order to produce hydrogen. Some of these include:
1. Nuclear
2. Biomass
3. Biofuels
4. Electrolysis of water
Previous studies have shown that it is more expensive to use hydrogen from petroleum-based fuels, coal, biomass and biofuels, as the cost of producing hydrogen. The costs can be reduced. The estimates produced are based on small amounts of hydrogen-based. And there are not many studies of biomass, biofuels or water electrolysis. The best solution for producing hydrogen is the electrolysis of water. You do not hear much about this, because large corporations are a factor in determining the outcome of the fuel cell industry. If they had their way, we would only gasoline-powered fuel cells or all of the hydrogen would be produced from petroleum-based fuels. But there are better solutions.
Now we return to the creation of the hydrogen economy. Okay, you say there are many ways to produce hydrogen? Yes. Okay, how does this in a hydrogen economy to translate? I have heard that the cost would be for the current change in the infrastructure for hydrogen so huge that not even worth it. I will not lie - it is expensive to change the infrastructure. However, we do it at some point. There are many countries that race at this time will be sooner rather than later. As Japan has to convert the tightest timeline to a hydrogen economy. Your goal is to create a hydrogen economy in place in 2020. This is surely in all our lives. So, to take into account additional factors are hydrogen storage and transport.
There are many types of storage media for hydrogen, which are already in use, and can be manufactured as cheaply mass-produced. The car can be more challenging. One solution is to many plants (as already mentioned), which produce electricity and hydrogen over the country, so, so that the transport layer. Perhaps the best option (or the one this author favors the most), the use of solar panels to break water into hydrogen and oxygen, and direct injection of hydrogen in the fuel cell. There are a few hydrogen refueling stations in California using this approach. The solar panels are actually on the roof of gas station to supply hydrogen to the pumps built. Imagine this concept by solar panels on every house or car, to supply all power! There are many ways that hydrogen can be produced, and there are countless configurations for hydrogen storage and use.
Yes, the transition from a petroleum-based to be expensive on a hydrogen economy, but what is more expensive in the long term? Is not it more expensive petroleum-based fuels whose resources are limited in use, a slave to the rising gas prices are dependent on other countries for fuel, and billions of dollars on wars that are probably due (at a certain level) spent our dependence on oil? What is actually more expensive?