Hydrogen gas is one of the most abundant elements on the planet. This makes it possible to produce the element in gas form using a wide variety of methods and raw materials providing possibly the most flexible fuel on the earth. In a traditional plant setting, producing hydrogen gas can begin with raw materials such as coal, water, natural gas, algae or biomass (natural organic composting materials).
by AdrianFletcher
Hydrogen gas is one of the most abundant elements on the planet. This makes it possible to produce the element in gas form using a wide variety of methods and raw materials providing possibly the most flexible fuel on the earth. In a traditional plant setting, producing hydrogen gas can begin with raw materials such as coal, water, natural gas, algae or biomass (natural organic composting materials).
Producing hydrogen gas from raw materials such as coal or biomass is called gasification, which requires heating the raw materials at a variety of extremely high temperatures, followed by a cooling, separation and purification process. The resulting hydrogen gas can then be used for any traditional fuel needs, or used as fuel to generate electricity. Coal gasification, when used to produce hydrogen gas as a fuel for generating electricity, produces much lower emissions than the traditional coal fueled power plant.
The least polluting and environmentally clean way to produce hydrogen gas involves extracting it from water. Several different methods are used to accomplish this, but electrolysis is the best method. Electrolysis produces hydrogen gas from water by using electric current to separate out the hydrogen from oxygen. The by-products of such a process are hydrogen and oxygen gas. The electricity used to power the method can be derived from renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind generators. Geothermal or hydro power can also provide the initial energy source. Nuclear-generated power may also be used for the electrolysis method.
In Thermochemical Water Splitting, water is heated at high temperatures with certain chemicals to create a chemical reaction that separates the hydrogen from the water. This process is usually found at nuclear power plants. The High Temperature Electrolysis process used for producing hydrogen gas is the same as electrolysis fueled by electricity except that this method utilizes heat generated by nuclear power generation directly, instead of using electric current to bring water to the appropriate temperature.
Producing hydrogen gas using natural gas as the raw material is achieved through a process called Steam Methane Reformation. This is a two-step method, which burns the natural gas to create steam, which results in a synthesis gas from which the hydrogen can be separated. This method, though not as environmentally friendly as electrolysis is currently used to produce roughly ninety-five percent of all hydrogen in the United States.
By employing Photo-Biological Production, hydrogen can be obtained from algae or bacteria recovered from wastewater. Under this method, when deprived of sulfur, algae produce hydrogen instead of oxygen. The greenest of all possible methods, this method's feedstock is created from waste by-products and renewable wastes, and is heralded by environmentalists.
When compared with fossil fuel production, producing hydrogen gas to be used to power any form of motor or engine seems to be a better proposition going forward. Fossil fuels are a finite resource that has a limited future. As abundant in supply as hydrogen naturally is, it will be an important fuel in the future, no matter how it is generated.
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