Quote:
BentNotTwisted:
"At high production rates that could mean a great deal of hydrogen being produced."
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For every 16g of CH4 you put in you could get 44,8 litres of hydrogen (if you really crack it all). Electrolysis is easier!
Quote:
shakran:
"That means we have to separate the other molecule from the hydrogen, a process which takes a HELL of a lot of energy whether we do it with steam, electricity, or heat."
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For 1m^3 of hydrogen it takes 4,5 kWh of electricity to produce it in a traditional way (steam, electricity, heat).
If you burn 1m^3 of hydrogen you get out ca. 3,3 kWh which leaves you with a "loss" of 1,2 kWh. If you compare this with electricity costs this would be something like 20 US cents lost.
Quote:
shakran:
"The simple fact is that hydrogen is an energy storage medium."
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Totally true. It's not a primary energy source like natural gas it has to be produced prefferably with solar energy.
Quote:
shakran:
"As for the pressurized-inert-hydrogen. ..well, as you said this is VERY far off. "
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No it's not. I did it in 2nd semester chemistry a few years ago. We did it with a kind of flintstone and pumped a few litres into a piece of the size of a toothpick. You have to warm it to get it out again.
The answer are metal-hydrides like FeTiH. You can put 30g hydrogen into a litre of this stuff which equals 336 litres of hydrogen under normal conditions.
Quote:
shakran:
"the safest method of delivery would be the solar powered on-site electrolysis. BIG problem with this,"
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it's just a matter of size.
As for the transportation issue:
How about pipelines.
Brilliantly easy technology which is well researched and secure.
AirLiquide delivers hydrogen in pipelines in the US if you need it in large quantities.
Their german daughter has a whole network with hydrogen pipelines spanning 240km in the Rhine-Ruhr area (densly populated).
Running for many, many years - still no accidents.
Handling hydrogen is as dangerous as handling natural gas so the experience and technology to transport it is there.
Quote:
shakran:
"Fuel cell vehicles are a load of crap."
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Not really. Fuel cells are more efficient at energy usage, just wait and see. At the moment it's only a question of space, power and heat to get them into a car.
In Europe they are already starting to put fuel cells into private homes to heat them and to provide them with power (no space problems in houses).