19-04-2012, 12:28 PM
India Hydrogen Energy
ishan.docx (Size: 261.42 KB / Downloads: 42)
Introduction [i]
Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas. It is found in water, organic compounds, biomass, and hydrocarbons such as petrol, natural gas, methanol, and propane. Hydrogen is high in energy content as it contains 120.7 kilojoules/gram. This is the highest energy content per unit mass among known fuels. However, its energy content per unit volume is rather low. Thus, challenges are greater in the storage of hydrogen for civilian applications, as compared to storage of liquid fossil fuels. When burnt, hydrogen produces water as a by-product and is therefore not only an efficient energy carrier but a clean, environmentally benign fuel as well. Hydrogen can be used for power generation and also for transport applications. It is possible to use hydrogen in internal combustion (IC) engines, directly or mixed with diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) or hydrogen can also be used directly as a fuel in fuel cells to produce electricity. Hydrogen energy is often mentioned as a potential solution for several challenges that the global energy system is facing. The advantages are the fact that hydrogen use results in nearly zero emissions at end-use, and that hydrogen opens up the possibility of decentralized production on the basis of a variety of fuels. But it is found that hydrogen will not play a major role in India without considerable research, technology innovations and cost reductions, mainly in fuel cell technology. This section provides inputs on the status of hydrogen energy in India.
Technology Hydrogen Production
Globally, over 95% of hydrogen is produced from hydrocarbons; about 4% is produced through electrolysis of water
Hydrogen is also produced as a by-product in chloralkali industries.
There are several other methods to produce hydrogen that are at different stages of research and demonstration.
These methods include hydrogen production through
(a) Biomass and biological route,
(b) Photo electrochemical route,
© Thermo chemical decomposition of water using nuclear energy or solar energy, and
(d) Electrolysis using renewable energy (solar, wind).
Hydrogen Storage Technologies
The most common method of storage of hydrogen is in gaseous form in pressurized cylinders/tanks.
Hydrogen-Fuelled Vehicles
It is possible to run commercially available IC-engine vehicles directly on hydrogen, or on hydrogen mixed with CNG.
Fuel Cell Power Packs
Research efforts over the past several years have resulted in the development of phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) systems and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems.
Status of Hydrogen-based Technologies in India
Production[ii]
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU); Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC), Chennai; and IIT, Kharagpur are among the leading research groups working on biological, biomass, and other renewable energy routes to produce hydrogen. With R&D support from the MNES, the MCRC has demonstrated hydrogen production in batch-scale from distillery waste. The pilot plant is able to produce up to 18 000 liters of hydrogen per hour.