A FUTURE ENERGY SOURCE - LIQUID HYDROGEN

A FUTURE ENERGY SOURCE - LIQUID HYDROGEN

ABSTRACT

The conversion to Liquid Hydrogen as an alternative fuel would allow for independence on fuel cost and supply, as Hydrogen is globally accessible. The biggest obstacle to using Hydrogen is its very low density, a property that even combined with Hydrogen’s high heat of combustion still results in very large fuel tanks. Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) with its higher density would still require a larger volume than other fuels like petrol, diesel, LPG to achieve the same mission. Another problem by using Liquid Hydrogen is its cryogenic nature, a property that requires complicated fuel tanks and more careful fueling. A design study has been conducted for this report to determine the feasibility of using Liquid Hydrogen.

Liquid Hydrogen has been proposed as an alternate fuel for various applications to supplant dwindling and increasingly costly, insecure hydrocarbon fuels. It is plentiful in supply, recyclable after combustion, low ion pollutant and toxic product, high energy content per unit mass and compatible with state of the art engine technology. Its low density, storage and handling problems, uncertain cost and safety aspects are facets that have to be dealt with before wide spread application is accepted.

INTRODUCTION

Of all the uncertainties the future of energy sector, the most serious are the future availability and price of the fuel. Recent temporary shortages of petroleum have driven up prices and prompted industrial nations to take conservation measures. Total production of oil is leveling off and is expected to begin declining over the next decade.

If limitations are imposed upon industrial fuel supplies in the future or prices rise too high, the projected growth of industry over the next 30 years may not materialize. This, in turn, would restrict any major expansion in the market, which would have higher fuel consumption rate.

It is timely that positive, aggressive action be taken to select a fuel for future. The choice would be made in full recognition of all the economic, sociological and technological ramifications which will be involved. Particularly, global aspects need to be considered. Local advantages or short term benefits which might require another change within a few decades should not be allowed to dominate the considerations.

With its tremendous fossil resources, there is strong incentive in the world to continue using kerosene type fuel for as long as it can be made available on an economic basis. The path of least resistance is to continue using the current fuel as long as it is available, broaden the specification to achieve a greater yield of usable product per barrel of crude oil. This minimizes the problem of changeover of equipments and facilities. Unfortunately, this option simply trades short term and local advantages for long term world wide problems.

On the basis of conceptual design studies and theoretical analysis Liquid Hydrogen has been shown to be a very attractive candidate compared with other alternative fuels like liquid methane synthetic jet A. Characteristics such as high energy content, clean burning, high cooling capacity and universal availability have made Liquid Hydrogen as a potential fuel for various applications.

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