Energy, Environment, Hydrogen: Energy, Environment, Hydrogen: A Case For Fuel CellsA Case For Fuel Cells

Why Do We Need Energy?Why Do We Need Energy?

Heating/Cooking

Transportation

Manufacturing

What Energy Sources Have We What Energy Sources Have We Used Over Time?Used Over Time?

Why Do We Care About Finding New Why Do We Care About Finding New Sources of Energy?Sources of Energy?

Cost

Environment

Abundance

Energy Security

Energy Usage: Today and TomorrowEnergy Usage: Today and TomorrowNet World Energy Consumption, 1980-2020

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Year

Ener

gy C

onsu

mpt

ion,

Qua

ds

Current Linear Growth in Energy Consumption is ~ 2%

At that rate, world energy needs will double in 35 years

Who is Using all this Energy?Who is Using all this Energy?World Energy Consumption, 2004

USA23%

Canada3%

Mexico1%

Central and S. America

5%

Europe and Eurasia

29%

Middle East3%

Africa3%

Asia33% The United States consumes 23% of the The United States consumes 23% of the

worldworld’’s energy productions energy production

Q:HowQ:How do we get all this energy?do we get all this energy?

Where Does Energy Come From?Where Does Energy Come From?

Energy Sources, 2004 (World)

Oil37%

Natural Gas24%

Coal27%

Nuclear6%

Hydro6%

Energy Sources, 2004 (USA)

Oil40%

Natural Gas25%

Coal24%

Nuclear8%

Hydro3%

Where Does Energy Come From?Where Does Energy Come From?

• 89% of the world’s energy consumption is produced from Fossil Fuels– Coal: Burn for electricity, heat– Natural Gas: Burn for electricity, heat– Oil: Refine into Kerosene, Gasoline, Jet Fuel

• Burned or combusted for electricity, heat or mechanical energy (automobile engine)

The VAST MAJORITY of our energy is obtained by burning fossil fuThe VAST MAJORITY of our energy is obtained by burning fossil fuels!els!

Energy from OilEnergy from Oil

Distribution of Proven Oil Reserves, 2004 (BP)

North America5% Russian Federation

6%Venezuala

7%

UAE8%

Kuwait8%

Iraq10%

Iran11%

Saudi Arabia22%

Total World Reserves of Petroleum (Oil) : 162 billion tonnes, or 6500 quads.

If 40% of world’s energy consumption comes from Oil, current proven oil reserves will be gone by 2035.

Energy from Natural GasEnergy from Natural GasTotal World Reserves of Natural Gas : 180 Trillion m3, or 6500 quads.

If 25% of world’s energy consumption comes from Natural Gas, current proven reserves will be gone by 2045.

Distribution of Proven Natural Gas Reserves, 2004 (BP)

Russian Federation

27%Iran15%

Qatar14%

Algeria, 3%Nigeria, 3%USA, 3%

UAE, 3%

Venezuela, 2%

Energy from CoalEnergy from Coal

Distribution of Proven Coal Reserves, 2004 (BP)

South Africa7% Australia

8%

China13%

India13%

Russian Federation15%

USA26%

Total World Reserves of Coal : 909,064 million tonnes, or 18,500 quads.

If 25% of world’s energy consumption comes from coal, current proven reserves will be gone by 2085.

Fossil Fuels are Running Out!Fossil Fuels are Running Out!

• Between Oil, Natural Gas and Coal, fossil fuel reserves comprise 32,000 quads.

• At our current rate of 400 quads consumed per year, that will last us 80 years.

• If our rate of consumption continues to increase by 2% each year, that will only last 45 years.

Alternative Energy TimelineAlternative Energy Timeline

• Replace Oil (40% total energy) by 2035• Replace NG (25% total energy) by 2045• Replace Coal (25% total energy) by 2085

• By the end of the century, there may be no more fossils fuels.

Hydrogen does not (necessarily) come from fossil fuels!

How do we get Energy from Fuels?How do we get Energy from Fuels?

• Combustion is a prime means today– Burning fuel with oxygen from air, to generate

hot gas– Convert energy within the hot gas into

mechanical energy, via Piston or Turbine.– Mechanical energy can be directly used, or

converted into electrical energy, by a Generator.

How do we get Energy from Fuels?How do we get Energy from Fuels?• Example 1: The four-stroke

piston engine.– Chances are, you got here

today with one of these.– Burns gasoline with air.– Emits SOX, NOX, carbon

monoxide, carbon particulates

How do we get Energy from Fuels?How do we get Energy from Fuels?• Example 2: The Coal-Fired Electrical Plant.

Burns coal with air to heat steam.

Steam turns a turbine.

Turning generator produces electricity.

Combustion produces NOX, SOX, Soot

Image courtesy of Tennessee Valley Authority

Fossil Fuels Are Fossil Fuels Are ““DirtyDirty””

• Pollution: Combustion of gasoline, kerosene, coal, natural gas produces oxides.– Why? Because combustion is reaction of

oxygen from air with fuel, i.e. oxidation.– Carbon Monoxide: POISON!– Carbon Dioxide: Greenhouse Gas!– Nitrogen & Sulfur Oxides: Cause Smog, Acid

Rain

Pollution from Fossil FuelsPollution from Fossil Fuels

Smog in Mexico City, Mexico Acid Rain Damaged Trees, Mt. Mitchell, NC

Coal Mine Drainage into Local Stream, NC Wildlife Affected by Oil Spills, Alaska

Hydrogen: A Better SolutionHydrogen: A Better Solution

• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant materials in the universe

• We can extract hydrogen from:– Fossil fuels (e.g. oil, natural gas, coal)– Bio-Fuels (e.g. ethanol, methane)

• We can convert electricity to hydrogen– Electrolysis of Water: A closed-loop!– Hydrogen from Solar Power– Hydrogen from Wind Power

Important Properties of HydrogenImportant Properties of Hydrogen

Colorless, Odorless, Buoyant

Important Properties of HydrogenImportant Properties of Hydrogen

Energetic – Releases lots of heat upon combination with oxygen to produce water (H2O)

How Can We Produce Hydrogen?How Can We Produce Hydrogen?

From Hydrocarbons From Water

Electricity splits water (H2O) into H2 and O2

Hydrogen Fuel Cell: A New HopeHydrogen Fuel Cell: A New HopeRuns off of clean hydrogen gas and airRuns off of clean hydrogen gas and air

Produces water and electricity Produces water and electricity –– NO POLLUTION!NO POLLUTION!

HH22 2H2H++ + 2e+ 2e--

½½ OO22 + 2H+ 2H++ + 2e+ 2e-- HH22OO

How Can Hydrogen Production Be How Can Hydrogen Production Be Sustainable?Sustainable?

Hydrogen: A Clean, Closed CycleHydrogen: A Clean, Closed Cycle

H2O

O2H2

H2O

Electrolysis of Water,Converts Electricity to Hydrogen

Hydrogen Storage,Piping, Delivery

Fuel Cell, CovertsHydrogen to Electricity

Electricity Used When and Where It is Needed

SolarSolarNuclearNuclearWindWind

eVeV

Fuel Cells Fuel Cells –– The Energy of the Future, TodayThe Energy of the Future, Today

AutomobilesBusesScootersBicyclesGolf-cartsFork liftsUtility vehiclesDistributed power generationBack-up powerPortable powerSpaceAirplanesLocomotivesBoatsUnderwater vehicles

PEM Fuel Cells used in Gemini program

Apollo program used alkaline fuel cells

Space Shuttle uses alkaline fuel cells

Renewed interest in PEM fuel cells

Courtesy of UTC Fuel Cells

First PEM Fuel CellGrubb and Niedrach (GE) Gemini Space Program 1960s

Fuel Cell Battery for U212including switchboard

120 kW PEM Fuel Cell Module

German Fuel Cell Submarine ProgramGerman Fuel Cell Submarine ProgramSiemens Fuel CellsSiemens Fuel Cells

PC1401 by Perry Group

First PEM Fuel Cell Powered Submarine (1989)First PEM Fuel Cell Powered Submarine (1989)

Every car manufacturer has demonstratedEvery car manufacturer has demonstrateda prototype fuel cell vehiclea prototype fuel cell vehicle

Configurations of Configurations of automotive fuel cell systemsautomotive fuel cell systems

1) Fuel cell provides all the power2) Fuel cell provides nominal power

– battery provides peak power (parallel hybrid)3) Fuel cell charges the batteries (series hybrid)4) Fuel cell as an auxiliary power unit

fuel cell el. motor fuel cell el.

motorbattery

fuel cell el.motorbattery

ICengine

fuel cell

1) 2)

3) 4)

There are already hundreds of hydrogen refueling stations!

Fraunhofer Institut

Fuel cells as battery replacement Fuel cells as battery replacement –– early developmentearly development

Fuel cells as battery replacement Fuel cells as battery replacement –– recent developmentrecent development

Choice of fuel – Oil, Gas, Hydrogen

Application – Home, office, factory

Grid connection – Surplus electricity sold back to the power company

Fuel Cells for The Home, Office and BeyondFuel Cells for The Home, Office and Beyond

hydrogen

oxygen

water

motor

electrolyzer

solar array

Reversible (Regenerative) Fuel CellReversible (Regenerative) Fuel Cell

fuel cell

electrolyzer

solar array

Reversible (Regenerative) Fuel CellReversible (Regenerative) Fuel Cell

hydrogen

oxygen

water

motor

During the day, solar panels produce electricity, for home and for generating the night’s worth of hydrogen.

hydrogen

oxygen

water

motor

fuel cell

Reversible (Regenerative) Fuel CellReversible (Regenerative) Fuel Cell

During the night, solar panels produce no electricity, so hydrogen is used by fuel cell to provide electricity.

Hydrogen in HistoryHydrogen in History

The Hindenburg Explosion, May 6th, 1937

The balloon skin was highly flammable –the balloon, not the hydrogen, is what actually caught on fire.(of course, all that hydrogen exacerbated the problem…)

The Hydrogen Bomb, Nov 1st, 1952

NOT Hydrogen combustion!

Hydrogen isotopes fuse to form helium (Nuclear Fusion)

MeV 6.17nHeHH 42

31

21 ++→+

Hydrogen in HistoryHydrogen in History

The Hindenburg Explosion, May 6th, 1937

The balloon skin was highly flammable –the balloon, not the hydrogen, is what actually caught on fire.(of course, all that hydrogen exacerbated the problem…)

The Hydrogen Bomb, Nov 1st, 1952

NOT Hydrogen combustion!

Hydrogen isotopes fuse to form helium (Nuclear Fusion)

MeV 6.17nHeHH 42

31

21 ++→+

Photo 1 - Time: 0 min, 0 sec

Vehicle with hydrogentank

Vehicle with gasolinetank

Photo 2 - Time 0 min, 3 seconds - Ignition of both fuels occur.Hydrogen flow rate 2100 SCFM. Gasoline flow rate 680 cc/min.

Vehicle with hydrogentank

Vehicle with gasolinetank

Photo 3 - Time: 1 min, 0 sec - Hydrogen flow is subsiding, view of gasoline vehicle begins to enlarge

Vehicle with hydrogentank

Vehicle with gasolinetank

Questions?Questions?