Transcript The Hydrogen Economy

The Hydrogen Economy
Karl K. Jonietz
Institute for Hydrogen & Fuel Cell
Research
Los Alamos National Laboratory
LA-UR 05-6588
The Hydrogen Economy is not:
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An answer to all of mankind’s problems
The only thing we have to do
Guaranteed to solve global warming
Going to be easy or cheap
Just around the corner
Assured
“Beware of people trying to sell
hydrogenated snake oil”
Some background
• Energy has basically three uses: heat,
electricity and transportation
• Petroleum is great as a transportation fuel
– High energy density, liquid, easy to handle,
and dirt cheap (even now)
• We have used more petroleum for
transportation than we produce
domestically since 1987
U.S. Petroleum Production and Consumption, 1970 - 2025
30
Domestic Petroleum Consumption
Imports
Million barrels per day
25
20
15
U.S. Production
10
Light Trucks
5
Cars
0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
Energy dependence has
implications
• Other countries are now competing for the oil we
buy
• Consider the secondary implications – many
groups of people will not be able to pay the
prices that will be demanded for petroleum
• It is difficult to believe we are better off as a
nation if there are large groups of cranky people
conspiring in the dark
• Energy security has become national security
We may also have an answer
• Hydrogen sources (natural gas & water)
are abundant and widely distributed
• Some methods of producing hydrogen do
not produce CO2
• Three ways to use hydrogen in
transportation: H2 internal combustion
engines, HCNG ICEs, and in fuel cells
• The quiz will cover the following
How PEM Fuel Cells Work
Right click mouse here for movie menu
That’s cool, but what are the
problems?
• It all boils down to getting “butts in seats”
• We have never successfully weaned
Americans from the personal automobile
• In order to get the US driving public to
trade in their gasoline cars, we must have
a viable alternative
• Keys are range, convenience, and cost,
cost, cost
DOE’s 2015 Targets
• Safe operation
• Hydrogen storage to allow >300 mile
range
• Fuel cell system cost of $30/kW
• Hydrogen delivered cost $2.00 – 3.00 per
gallon of gas equivalent or kg H2
• Fuel cell durability >5000 hours, with cold
start to -20°C and survivability to -40°C
This won’t cut it
• Note the ample
luggage room
• Perhaps a safety
issue
• Range was limited
• This does not
represent success
In 1973, LANL modified a Buick
to run on liquid hydrogen
Where are we today?
• Codes and standards are under
development
• Driving range is improving, but still a
problem
• Fuel cell system costs are about $200/kW
• We are approaching $3.00/gge for
distributed natural gas reforming
• Durability remains a serious barrier
Good news; bad news
• GN: We can find solutions to these problems
• BN: It will take time; we have short attention
spans -- industry and government are not good
at long-term research
• GN: Many researchers at many institutions are
involved
• BN: People with little chance of success are
climbing on the bandwagon and getting funding
while siphoning off critical research dollars
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen timeline at LANL
Los Alamos activities & accomplishments vs. external events
Institute for Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Research
Hydrogen Storage Virtual Center of Excellence Awarded
Objective Force W arrior Power System w/ Ball Aerospace
FreedomCAR & Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives
PNGV Medal, Energy 100 & Energy @ 23 Awards
Fusion Energy Science Tritium Facility
World’s First Gasoline -Direct-to-Electricity Demo w/ ADL& Plug Power
First Complete Methanol -Direct-to-Electricity Power System
General Motors / LANL Electrochemical Engine Project (on-site)
CO Tolerance Established via Anode Air Bleed
Staged Preferential Oxidation Developed w/ DelcoRemy
1990
H2/O2 NASA tests w/ Ballard
Manufacturable Thin -Film Electrodes
PEM Electrode Breakthrough , Pt  20X
GM Establishes Corporate Fuel Cell R&D Center
Government/Industry Partnership for a New Generation of
Vehicles (PNGV)
1980
1st DOE funded Fuel Cells for Transportation Project
CH2/O2 Fuel Cell Golf Cart Demo
LH2 ICE Buick Demonstration
2 nd Oil Embargo
1970
LASL/Westinghouse Rover/NERVA
Nuclear Rocket Program
(Hydrogen Propellant)
2000
1st Oil Embargo
Hamilton Standard SPE Electrolyzers for O2 Production on Nuclear Submarines
General Electric develops SPE fuel cell for NASA Gemini Missions
1960
1950
Los Alamos defense programs develop
science and engineering base for
hydrogen isotope purification, storage,
and materials interactions
Questions?
[email protected]
505-667-1311