Hydrogen Generation Update
Hydrogen has traditionally been indispensable for transforming petroleum into many of the synthetic materials used in industrial production such as polymers, chemicals, and pharmaceutical raw materials. Currently, hydrogen is receiving a lot of press in the context of new applications involving renewable energy and clean technologies. In particular, considerable R&D has been focused on the development of high efficiency home and other distributed electrolysis systems for transportation. Industry estimates that the total market for traditional uses of hydrogen combined with these new applications will reach $15.6 billion by 2016. Revenues from merchant and on-site hydrogen sales will reach $2.7 billion in 2008, up from $1.8 billion in 2003, at an average annual growth rate of 8.5%. Challenge Alternative hydrogen production methods are highly desired for eliminating production of these greenhouse gasses. Water electrolysis (the splitting of water molecules with electrical energy) generates hydrogen without producing greenhouse gasses, and ideally would be powered by a renewable resource such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric or nuclear energy. To date, electrolysis has not achieved the efficiency and cost levels required because the catalyst material used in electrolysis today is expensive and the reaction that produces the hydrogen is not efficient enough—alternatives must be found within the process. Solution QSI has demonstrated that by using its nano nickel and iron particles it is possible to exceed the Department of Energy’s target with 85% energy efficiency by increasing the surface area of the active components of the electrolyzer, without any CO2. This degree of efficiency makes hydrogen generation commercially viable for replacing fossil fuel-based methods, especially as the cost of fuel increases. Additionally, QSI’s proprietary and scalable manufacturing process can produce nano nickel and iron in the quantities required for large-scale commercial hydrogen generation via water electrolysis. QSI’s nano scale materials thus make it possible to meet all current and future hydrogen needs: for industrial production, as sole fuel for next generation plug-in hybrid electric/hydrogen and fuel cell powered vehicles, and for the hydrogen-enhanced standard combustion engine.
Hydrogen Generation by Water Electrolysis
During electrolysis, water molecules are broken
into their constituent parts using QSI nanometal (such as Nano Ni)
electrodes to produce oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2).
The hydrogen can be used to power fuel cells (See
How Hydrogen Creates Electric Power In A Fuel Cell); the oxygen can be
stored or vented as desired. In this diagram, the electrolysis process is
powered by solar panels made using Nano Ni, but conventional sources of
electricity may also be used.Water Electrolysis for H2 Production Energy in Hydrogen (Use HHV Values) BTU H2= (A* Hr * k * H2gmw) * BTU/gH2 BTU in H2 = AHr * 5.058 Energy to Make Hydrogen BTU Used = (Amps * Cell V * Hrs)*(BTU/WHr) BTU Used = WHr * 3.413
Water Electrolysis for H2production Efficiency = BTU in H2 / BTU Used to Make H2 Efficiency = 1.482 / Cell Voltage Volume of H2 as Gallon of Gas Equivalent (gge) gge --> kg H2 --> 125,000 BTU H2 Production Rate as gge/hr/m2 = A/cm2 * 0.405 kWhr/kg = Cell V/(SA*Hr) * (96487*2)/(3600*2.0159) kWhr/kg (or gge) = Cell V/( cm2*Hr) * 26.59
(c) 2008 Quantumsphere, Inc. All rights reserved. To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.qsinano.com
|