Hydrogen and fuel cells : emerging technologies and applications / Bent Sørensen.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A hydrogen economy, in which this one gas provides the source of all energy needs, is often touted as the long-term solution to the environmental and security problems associated with fossil fuels. However, before hydrogen can be used as fuel on a global scale we must establish cost effective means of producing, storing, and distributing the gas, develop cost efficient technologies for converting hydrogen to electricity (e.g. fuel cells), and creating the infrastructure to support all this. Sorensen is the only text available that provides up to date coverage of all these issues at a level appropriate for the technical reader.

The book not only describes the "how" and "where" aspects of hydrogen fuels cells usage, but also the obstacles and benefits of its use, as well as the social implications (both economically and environmental). Written by a world-renowned researcher in energy systems, this thoroughly illustrated and cross-referenced book is an excellent reference for researchers, professionals and students in the field of renewable energy.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. v)
• Contents (p. vii)
• Units and conversion factors (p. xii)
• 1 Introduction (p. 1)
• 1.1 Possible role of fuel cells and hydrogen (p. 1)
• 2 Hydrogen (p. 5)
• 2.1 Production of hydrogen (p. 5)
• 2.1.1 Steam reforming (p. 6)
• 2.1.2 Partial oxidation, autothermal and dry reforming (p. 10)
• 2.1.3 Water electrolysis: reverse fuel cell operation (p. 11)
• 2.1.4 Gasification and woody biomass conversion (p. 21)
• 2.1.5 Biological hydrogen production (p. 26)
• Photosynthesis, Bio-hydrogen production pathways, Hydrogen production by purple bacteria, Fermentation and other processes in the dark, Industrial-scale production of bio-hydrogen
• 2.1.6 Photodissociation (p. 43)
• 2.1.7 Direct thermal or catalytic splitting of water (p. 50)
• 2.2 Issues related to scale of production (p. 51)
• 2.2.1 Centralised hydrogen production (p. 51)
• 2.2.2 Distributed hydrogen production (p. 52)
• 2.2.3 Vehicle on-board fuel reforming (p. 52)
• Production of methanol, Methanol-to-hydrogen conversion
• 2.3 Hydrogen conversion overview (p. 59)
• 2.3.1 Uses as an energy carrier (p. 59)
• 2.3.2 Uses, as an energy storage medium (p. 60)
• 2.3.3 Combustion uses (p. 60)
• 2.3.4 Stationary fuel cell uses (p. 64)
• 2.3.5 Fuel cell uses for transportation (p. 64)
• 2.3.6 Direct uses (p. 64)
• 2.4 Hydrogen storage options (p. 65)
• 2.4.1 Compressed gas storage (p. 66)
• 2.4.2 Liquid hydrogen storage (p. 70)
• 2.4.3 Hydride storage (p. 71)
• Chemical thermodynamics, Metal hydrides, Complex hydrides, Modelling metal hydrides Cryo-adsorbed gas storage in carbon materials (p. 89)
• 2.4.4 Other chemical storage options (p. 90)
• 2.4.5 Comparing storage options (p. 90)
• 2.5 Hydrogen transmission (p. 92)
• 2.5.1 Container transport (p. 92)
• 2.5.2 Pipeline transport (p. 93)
• 2.6 Problems and discussion topics (p. 94)
• 3 Fuel cells (p. 95)
• 3.1 Basic concepts (p. 95)
• 3.1.1 Electrochemistry and thermodynamics of fuel cells (p. 95)
• Electrochemical device definitions, Fuel cells
• 3.1.2 Modelling aspects (p. 106)
• 3.1.3 Quantum chemistry approaches (p. 111)
• Hartree-Fock approximation, Basis sets and molecular orbitals, Higher interactions and excited states: Møller-Plesset perturbation theory or density function phenome-nological approach ?
• 3.1.4 Application to water splitting or fuel cell performance at a metal surface (p. 122)
• 3.1.5 Flow and diffusion modelling (p. 135)
• 3.1.6 The temperature factor (p. 139)
• 3.2 Molten carbonate cells (p. 140)
• 3.3 Solid oxide cells (p. 143)
• 3.4 Acid and alkaline cells (p. 158)
• 3.5 Proton exchange membrane cells (p. 163)
• 3.5.1 Current collectors and gas delivery system (p. 165)
• 3.5.2 Gas diffusion layers (p. 169)
• 3.5.3 Membrane layer (p. 175)
• 3.5.4 Catalyst action (p. 181)
• 3.5.5 Overall performance (p. 186)
• 3.5.6 High-temperature and reverse operation (p. 187)
• 3.5.7 Degradation and lifetime (p. 190)
• 3.6 Direct methanol and other non-hydrogen cells (p. 191)
• 3.7 Biofuel cells (p. 197)
• 3.8 Problems and discussion topics (p. 200)
• 4 Systems (p. 201)
• 4.1 Passenger cars (p. 201)
• 4.1.1 Overall system options for passenger cars (p. 201)
• 4.1.2 PEM fuel cell cars (p. 204)
• 4.1.3 Performance simulation (p. 207)
• 4.2 Other road vehicles (p. 225)
• 4.3 Ships, trains and airplanes (p. 228)
• 4.4 Power plants and stand-alone systems (p. 233)
• 4.5 Building-integrated systems (p. 236)
• 4.6 Portable and other small-scale systems (p. 240)
• 4.7 Problems and discussion topics (p. 244)
• 5 Implementation scenarios (p. 245)
• 5.1 Infrastructure requirements (p. 245)
• 5.1.1 Storage infrastructure (p. 245)
• 5.1.2 Transmission infrastructure (p. 248)
• 5.1.3 Local distribution (p. 249)
• 5.1.4 Filling stations (p. 250)
• 5.1.5 Building-integrated concepts (p. 25l)
• 5.2 Safety and norm issues (p. 252)
• 5.2.1 Safety concerns (p. 252)
• 5.2.2 Safety requirements (p. 255)
• 5.2.3 National and international standards (p. 259)
• 5.3 Scenarios based on fossil energy (p. 260)
• 5.3.1 Scenario techniques and demand modelling (p. 260)
• 5.3.2 Global clean fossil scenario (p. 270)
• Clean fossil technologies, Fossil resource considerations, The fossil scenario, Evaluation of the clean fossil scenario
• 5.4 Scenarios based on nuclear energy (p. 294)
• 5.4.1 History and present concerns (p. 294)
• 5.4.2 Safe nuclear technologies (p. 297)
• Inherently safe designs, Technical details of energy amplifier, Nuclear resources assessment, Safe nuclear scenario construction, Evaluation of the safe nuclear scenario
• 5.5 Scenarios based on renewable energy (p. 317)
• 5.5.1 Global renewable energy scenarios (p. 318)
• 5.5.2 Detailed national renewable energy scenario (p. 323)
• Danish energy demand in 2050, Available renewable resources, Construction of 2050 scenarios for Denmark, Centralised scenario, Decentralised scenario, Assessment of renewable energy scenarios
• 5.5.3 New regional scenarios (p. 353)
• 5.6 Problems and discussion topics (p. 359)
• 6 Social implications (p. 361)
• 6.1 Cost expectations (p. 361)
• 6.1.1 Hydrogen production costs (p. 361)
• 6.1.2 Fuel cell costs (p. 362)
• 6.1.3 Hydrogen storage costs (p. 368)
• 6.1.4 Infrastructure costs (p. 368)
• 6.1.5 System costs (p. 369)
• 6.2 Life-cycle analysis of environmental and social impacts 372
• 6.2.1 Purpose and methodology of life-cycle analysis (p. 373)
• 6.2.2 Life-cycle analysis of hydrogen production (p. 375)
• Conventional production by steam reforming, Production by electrolysis, Direct bio-production of hydrogen from cyanobacteria or algae, Impacts from use of genetically engineered organisms, Hydrogen from fermentation of biomass
• 6.2.3 Life-cycle analysis of fuel cells (p. 381)
• SOFCs and MCFCs, PEM fuel cells
• 6.2.4 Life-cycle comparison of conventional passenger car and passenger car with fuel cells (p. 384)
• Environmental impact analysis, Social and economic impact analysis, Overall assessment
• 6.2.5 Life-cycle assessment of other vehicles for transportation (p. 396)
• 6.2.6 Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen storage and infrastructure (p. 398)
• 6.2.7 Life-cycle assessment of hydrogen systems (p. 399)
• 6.3 Uncertainties (p. 400)
• 6.4 Problems and discussion topics (p. 401)
• 7 Conclusion: a conditional outcome (p. 403)
• 7.1 Opportunities (p. 403)
• 7.2 Obstacles (p. 405)
• 7.3 The competition (p. 407)
• 7.4 The way forward (p. 417)
• 7.4.1 Hydrogen storage in renewable energy systems (p. 417)
• 7.4.2 Fuel cell vehicles (p. 418)
• 7.4.3 Building-integrated fuel cells (p. 420)
• 7.4.4 Fuel cells in portable equipment (p. 421)
• 7.4.5 Fuel cells in centralised power production (p. 422)
• 7.4.6 Efficiency considerations (p. 423)
• 7.4 How much time do we have? (p. 428)
• 7.5 The end, and a beginning (p. 432)
• References (p. 435)
• Index (p. 483)

Author notes provided by Syndetics