Another step towards Hydrogen power (instead of electric)

[Jev88]

'Artificial leaf' concept inspires research into solar-powered fuel production

Rice University researchers have created an efficient, low-cost device that splits water to produce hydrogen fuel.

phys.org

Artificial Leaf Hydrogen production.

 

[Jev88]

And another industry wanting to trial hydrogen power (not for vehicles this time).
But if they show hydrogen production is a clever use of excess solar and wind turbine electricity then it could be a big step towards using in cars too.....

Ammonia plants

 

[DBK]

Efficient hydrogen production will be key and if this works at scale it looks good. The plants would probably be somewhere sunny I guess, probably the very same countries already with most of the oil.

The majority current commercial hydrogen is produced by a reaction between Methane (CH4) and steam (H2O) at high temperature. The downside of the reaction is in addition to the hydrogen it also produces carbon dioxide, of which we have too much already.

 

[Jev88]

Efficient hydrogen production will be key and if this works at scale it looks good. The plants would probably be somewhere sunny I guess, probably the very same countries already with most of the oil.

The majority current commercial hydrogen is produced by a reaction between Methane (CH4) and steam (H2O) at high temperature. The downside of the reaction is in addition to the hydrogen it also produces carbon dioxide, of which we have too much already.

Can't find the link but there's a system idea that base hydrogen production at the foot of wind turbines so instead of turning them on and off with demand they can run 24/7. It wasn't a steam system.

 

[bilM]

probably be somewhere sunny I guess, probably the very same countries already with most of the oil.

So that will be Scotland ?

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[DBK]

Can't find the link but there's a system idea that base hydrogen production at the foot of wind turbines so instead of turning them on and off with demand they can run 24/7. It wasn't a steam system.

There's a weird reverse osmosis system I've seen mentioned but I don't have details how it works. It is a sort of electrolysis system but uses pure water and doesn't suffer the erosion of electrodes you get with conventional electrolysis.

The photo below is a DIY system made by a Russian bloke. The thing on the right is a power supply and the thing with four pipes is where the membrane is and through which a current is passed. The big tank is full of water and the other two are for collecting and drying the hydrogen. It isn't simple electrolysis. The guy uses the hydrogen to fill small balloons about 36" in diameter fitted with tiny solar powered radio payloads weighing less than 10g and then launches them. One of his balloons went round the earth about 5 times! Google "pico balloons" for more info about them.

 

[Reallyretired]

When I went past our local windfarm (only three generators so more a wind allotment) only one was in use so the other two could have been used producing hydrogen

 

[Jev88]

When I went past our local windfarm (only three generators so more a wind allotment) only one was in use so the other two could have been used producing hydrogen

That is exactly the idea.
I was at an alternative energy trade show before lock down (not my field but helping industrial colleague). Guy had a palletised generator looking device - like a mobile power unit. Except it worked by using electricity input only and bottled hydrogen came out the other end. Flick a switch and it could use the hydrogen to output electricity but that isn't the primary goal.

Perhaps we will look back in 20 years and laugh at electric cars when we install hydrogen tanks where petrol tanks currently reside at fuel stations.

 

[Dorwyn]

Pau in France operate hydrogen-powered buses in their city centre, I believe, I'm sure I've seen one running, in Pau. Although steam dissipates easily and quickly, I was wondering what the effects might be of steam vapour from a large number of vehicles in confined spaces? Obviously less pollution, better than that presently from exhausts. steam vapour will be emitted, right?

 

[Jev88]

Pau and Amiens in France operate hydrogen-powered buses in their city centres, I believe, I'm sure I've seen one running, so it must have been in Pau. Although steam dissipates easily and quickly, I was wondering what the effects might be of steam vapour from a large number of vehicles in confined spaces? Obviously less pollution, better than that presently from exhausts. steam vapour will be emitted, right?

Water vapour is the main emission as I understand it.

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[Jev88]

And..... You guessed it ... Another step along hydrogen power highway.....

Hydrogen solar farm

 

[denisejoe]

Water vapour is the main emission as I understand it.

Probably rain

 

[Vipar]

Big tax on water coming then???

 

[busby]

That is exactly the idea.
I was at an alternative energy trade show before lock down (not my field but helping industrial colleague). Guy had a palletised generator looking device - like a mobile power unit. Except it worked by using electricity input only and bottled hydrogen came out the other end. Flick a switch and it could use the hydrogen to output electricity but that isn't the primary goal.

Perhaps we will look back in 20 years and laugh at electric cars when we install hydrogen tanks where petrol tanks currently reside at fuel stations.

Funny that but Honest John a Telegraph Motor Reporter has always said Hydrogen is the future and the Yanks have been stroring it in limestone for years.BUSBY.

 

[Paddywack]

Funny that but Honest John a Telegraph Motor Reporter has always said Hydrogen is the future and the Yanks have been stroring it in limestone for years.BUSBY.

Think you are confusing it with helium, which is in short supply but high demand. Hydrogen is relatively easy to produce as evidenced above.

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