Hydrogen Fuel for Transportation

Deena Patel and Abigail Mechtenberg

Introductory Questions• What is the most abundant element in

universe?– Hydrogen

• What percentage of the atoms are hydrogen?– 90 %

• Where is hydrogen found on Earth?– H20 and Hydrocarbons (i.e. fossil fuels)

• Is hydrogen a source or carrier on Earth– Carrier

• Where is hydrogen found as a source (not bound to other atoms?– Sun

World has transformed dramatically in one life time – say in the last 80 years.

1881 UM Engineering

Today’s UM Engineering

1917

Shop

1942 Engineering Class

World has transformed dramatically in one life time – say in the last 80 years.

1913 Model-T 2003 cars with navigation systems

World has transformed dramatically in one life time – say in the last 80 years.

Today’s UM Computer Lab

1948 IBM Computer

Today’s IBM Computer

Original Gasoline Delivery - Innovative

1901

President Bush Launchesthe Hydrogen Fuel Initiative

"Tonight I am proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.

"With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.

"Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy."

President George W. Bush2003 State of the Union Address

January 28, 2003

Energy Consumption – 100 Quads

Transportation Petroleum Use by Mode (1970-2025) 2003 Total = 13.42 mbpd

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Mill

ion

bar

rels

per

day Marine

Rail

Actual Projection

Cars

Air

Light Trucks

Heavy Vehicles

U.S. ProductionOff-Road

Note: Domestic production includes crude oil, natural gas plant liquids, refinery gain, and other inputs. This is consistent with EIA, MER, Table 3.2. Previous versions of this chart included crude oil and natural gas plant liquids only.Source: Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 24, ORNL-6973, and EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2005, Preliminary release, December 2004.

Dependence on Oil Imports

GHG Emissions

GHG Emissions by Fuel Type

Approaches to Reducing the Oil Gap• Produce More Domestic Oil• Use Less

– Improve Efficiency (hybrid techology)– Use Alternative Fuels (hydrogen,

biofuel)– Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) -

Policy

DOE Partners with Industry– FreedomCAR focuses on

fuel cell vehicle and hybrid component technologies

– Hydrogen Fuel Initiative focuses on hydrogen production, storage, delivery and infrastructure technologiesThe Goal: Fuel Cell Vehicles in the The Goal: Fuel Cell Vehicles in the

Showroom and Hydrogen at Fueling Showroom and Hydrogen at Fueling Stations by 2020Stations by 2020

Hydrogen Pathway

.

Distributed Generation

TransportationHydro

Wind

Solar

Geothermal

Coal

Nuclear

Biomass

Natural Gas

Oil

Wit

h C

arb

on

Seq

ues

trat

ion

Note: Nuclear Power Plant does not need carbon sequestration

Conventional Vehicle: GV

Hybrid Electric Vehicles: HEV

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle: HFCV

Fuel 50

Transmission Losses = 6

Accessories2

Power to Wheels16

Efficiency FC: Losses = 26

Entering Market Prediction

Fuel Economy Predictions

Assuming PEMs are more efficient

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Inside a Fuel Cell

1. The red Hs represent hydrogen molecules (H2) from a hydrogen storage tank.

2. The orange H+ represents a hydrogen ion after its electron is removed.

3. The yellow e- represents an electron moving through a circuit to do work (like lighting a light bulb or powering a car).

4. The green Os represent an oxygen molecule (O2) from the air.

5. The blue drops at the end are for pure water--the only byproduct of hydrogen power.

2H2 +O2 2H2O + electrical energy

Proton Exchange Membrane: PEM

• The proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell uses a fluorocarbon ion exchange with a polymeric membrane as the electrolyte.

• The PEM cell appears to be more adaptable to automobile use than the other types of cells. These cells operate at relatively low temperatures and can vary their output to meet shifting power demands.

• Efficiency is about 40 to 50 percent with outputs generally ranging from 50 to 250 kW

Fuel Cell Demonstration Fuel Cell Demonstration VehiclesVehicles

4-5 passengers4-5 passengers 80-90 mph speed80-90 mph speed180-250 miles range180-250 miles range

PerformancePowerPower

kW, hpkW, hpTop Top

SpeedSpeed

mphmph

RangeRange

mimiAccel.Accel.

0-600-60FuelFuel

CamryCamry 135135 400400 GasolineGasoline

EV1EV1 137137 8080 70-9070-90 BatteryBattery

Necar 5Necar 5 90, 12090, 120 9090125125

(250)(250)MethanolMethanol

P2000P2000

FordFord90, 12090, 120 9090 100100 14 s14 s

CompComp

HydrogenHydrogen

FCHV-3FCHV-3

ToyotaToyota90, 12090, 120 >90>90 190190

HydrideHydride

HybridHybrid

HydroGeHydroGen1 GMn1 GM 120, 163120, 163 8585 250250 16s16s

LiquidLiquid

HydrogenHydrogen

Fuel Cell SystemFuel Cell System

•Fuel CellFuel Cell•Fuel Processor (if present)Fuel Processor (if present)•Fuel StorageFuel Storage•Fuel InfrastructureFuel Infrastructure

Possible System Possible System ConfigurationsConfigurations

Methanol

Gasoline

Direct Methanol

FC

H2-FC Methanol Reformer

Gasoline Reformer

CompressedHydrogen

Hydrogen

SolidHydride

Hydrogen

MethanolTank

GasolineTank

MethanolTank

Methanol

Weight of Sub-SystemsWeight of Sub-Systems

Methanol

Gasoline

Direct Methanol

FC

H2-FC Methanol Reformer

Gasoline Reformer

CompressedHydrogen

Hydrogen

SolidHydride

Hydrogen

MethanolTank

GasolineTank

MethanolTank

Methanol

90 kg90 kg 100 kg100 kg

52 kg52 kg

50 kg50 kg

85 kg85 kg

100 kg100 kg

80 kg80 kg

How large of a gas tank do How large of a gas tank do youyou want? want?

Schlapbach & Züttel, Nature, 15 Nov. 2001

Volume Comparisons for 4 kg Vehicular H2 Storage

Minimum Performance Goal

Volumetric Energy Density vsMass Energy Density

Ultimate Goal

Storage Issues for Various H2 Fuels

Hydrogen Safety

Photo 3 - Time: 1 min, 0 sec - Hydrogen flow is subsiding, gasoline vehicle engulfed in fire

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 hydrogen tank

Vehicle with gasoline tank

From: M.R. Swain, Fuel Leak Simulation, University of Miami,

Hydrogen Flame

• Cannot be seen

• Temperature

• Flame goes up

Varied Views on Timing

• “Fuel-cell cars, in contrast [to hybrids], are expected on about the same schedule as NASA’s manned trip to Mars and have about the same level of likelihood.”

Scientific AmericanMay 2004

Perspectives to Consider

• Even “in the advanced technology case with a carbon constraint … hydrogen doesn’t penetrate the transportation sector in a major way until after 2035.” Jae Edmonds et al.,

PNNL, 2/04• Before then, H2 cars likely to increase GHGs.

– Zero-CO2 H2 cars avoid CO2 at cost of $700/ton!E.C. Joint Research Center & EUCAR, 1/04

Back to Original Goals

In the meantime, we can reduce the oil gap by:

• Fuel Efficient Vehicles• Alternative Fuel Use

• Reduce VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled)

If we choose to use hydrogen in transportation, thenwe have to ask where is the hydrogen coming from

Current Worldwide Hydrogen Uses

Source: NRC Hydrogen Economy (2004)

42 million tons (US 9 million tons)

Where does H2 come from?

• Most H on earth is bound to other atoms– Water: H20

– Fossil Fuels: hydro-carbon chains– Organic matter: biomass

• Need to input energy to break these bonds in order to isolate the hydrogen.

• Energy carrier like electricity.

H2 from H2O

• Electrolysis– Running an electric current through water produces

hydrogen and oxygen (reverse of fuel cell).– Dates back to 1800’s – Produces high purity H2

– Can use any fuel to generate electricity• Fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, wind

• Other ways of splitting water:– Photolysis, biological, thermo-chemical

Renewable Resource Potential

H2 from fossil fuels

• Fossil fuels, like oil, are made up of hydrogen and carbon chains.

H2 from fossil fuels – natural gas

• Steam reforming of natural gas:

CH4 +H2O (1100° C) CO + 3H2

• Need to purify: CO can poison catalystsWater gas shift reaction:

CO +H2O CO2 + H2

H2 from fossil fuels – coal, coke, biomass

• Gasification to synthetic gas (syn. gas)

C +H2O (1000° C) CO + H2

Followed by water gas shift reactionCO +H2O CO2 + H2

• CO2 can be vented or captured (carbon capture).

Current World Hydrogen Production

Source: DOE (2003)

Current US production: 9 million tons.By 2040 fuel cell cars and light trucks will require 150 million tons of hydrogen(DOE estimate)

Peak Oil Production

Source: P. Weisz Phys. Today July 2004

Natural Gas Supplies

Source: P. Weisz Phys. Today July 2004

Coal Supplies

Source: P. Weisz Phys. Today July 2004

Carbon Capture

• If fossil fuels are used to generate hydrogen, green house gasses (primarily CO2) can be captured at the production site.

• Underground storage: geologic formations such as depleted gas and oil reservoirs.– Done in Norway since 1996: 1 million metric

tons of CO2 per year.

• Economical for large centralized sites

Carbon Capture Potential

Current US CO2 emissions: 6 billion metric tons

Delivered H2 Cost ($/kg)

$2.50/gallonof gasoline

Source: LIpman (2004)

GHG Emissions - Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Natural Gas

Reforming

Electrol-

ysis

Nuclear

SolarBiomass

Source: LIpman (2004)

Major Air Pollutants – Hydrogen FC

Natural Gas

Reforming

Electrol.

Nuclear

Solar

Biomass

Summary• Hydrogen is abundant worldwide, but not in an

isolated form (H2).• Fuel cells convert H2 to electricity.• Currently, Hybrids-GHEV get better efficiencies

than Conventional Vehicles-GCV, but Hydrogen-FCV offer higher efficiencies (HEV could run on H2)

• H2 can be produced from renewable or nonrenewable sources– Long term goals should include moving towards

renewable sources.– Carbon capture to reduce greenhouse pollution from

fossil fuel sources.

References/Further Reading

• National Research Counsel: Hydrogen Economy 2004.

• APS Revised Hydrogen Report, October 2004• G. Crabtree et al. The Hydrogen Economy, Physics

Today, December 2004.• P. Weisz, Basic Choices and Constraints on Long-

Term Energy Supplies, Physics Today, July 2004.• T. Lipman, What Will Power the Hydrogen Economy?

Present and Future Sources of Hydrogen Energy.

Thank you.Abigail Mechtenberg and Deena Patel

Current Cost Estimate

kgmiHkg

mi/40

5.7

Range300

2

gallonmi

gallon

mi/27

1

Range27

gallon US/50.2$

Gas Natural/00.5$ kg

equivalent/gallon 13.3$

13.3$25

40

00.5$

gallon

mi

mi

kg

kg

Hydrogen Fuel Cost Gasoline Fuel Cost