2008 Hydrogen Implementation Conference

The conference held July 22 - 24 in Laramie, Wyoming, covered a wide range of hydrogen generation sources, storage mechanisms, transport infrastructure, and application considerations.

by Michael Riversong, NEC
for Pure Energy Systems News

During the opening address of the 4th annual Hydrogen Implementation Conference, David Haberman, a noted consultant and conference chairman, said "The Hydrogen vision is about energy, not chemistry". This set the tone for many of the presentations.

Under the old, dying, Rockefeller designed Petroleum Economy, all hydrogen production was built around small-scale chemical industry processes and assumptions. This has turned out to be an obstacle to hydrogen energy development.

Several presenters and attendees at times alluded to the fact that the first internal combustion engines made in the 1800s were powered by hydrogen. At that time, there were many considerations against hydrogen, and other fuels, including alcohol and gasoline, were eventually developed. As we all know, gasoline, a blend of benzene and other crude oil fractions, became the world's standard fuel. That's what led to the present unworkable situation.

Hydrogen has long been regarded as unsafe. Al Ebron, of West Virginia University's National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), met this consideration head-on. It really isn't a matter of Hydrogen being less safe, but simply different protocols necessary when compared to gasoline. Already, hydrogen tanks have been developed with automatic vent systems for emergencies. Hydrogen, being lighter than any other gas or liquid vapor, immediately rises away from an incident scene. Therefore, first responders and mechanics have one thing to do before any other action: shut down the engine. This immediately takes away much remaining danger. Several workshops and courses have been set up and delivered by NAFTC along these lines.

Hydrogen flames are difficult to see, which has created fear among many safety workers and firefighters. This is why fire trucks are sometimes equipped with old brooms. A firefighter simply sticks the broom into a suspect area, and if it lights up, there's a hydrogen fire happening. That said, because of its lightness hydrogen fires are relatively rare and tend to run out quickly.

Many hybrid vehicles (including those run with gasoline) have heavy-duty electrical systems. Now, bright orange has been established as the standard color for thick high-voltage cables. These are not to be cut or otherwise molested.

Hydrogen embrittles some materials due to its high chemical reactivity, including many metals commonly used in older engines and fuel systems. Today's material engineers are aware of this, but the selection of materials is greater than ever before. So this obstacle to hydrogen fuel development is no longer a big problem. For example, fuel lines can now be easily made with stainless steel.

Political obstacles to hydrogen development were summarized by Wyoming governor Dave Freudenthal in a keynote address. Some of these can be unexpected, such as union groups suddenly opposing a project when they feel their own interests are somehow threatened. Regional interests can be a factor. This may have nothing to do with the merits of a technology or project. He said, "We're using energy as a sword to get an advantage, instead of using it to build a better life."

Al Unione of Parsons, an engineering and construction project company, pointed out that the Hydrogen Economy is diverse. Many incremental developments with dispersed ownership are combining in its evolution. Public acceptance needs to be built, with the awareness that "the American public gets most of its science in sound bites." Many codes, standards, and regulations need to be developed, a point which was elaborated on by several other speakers. Parsons has made a company-wide commitment to helping develop the Hydrogen Economy.

Many feedstocks for hydrogen were listed by Mr. Unione and several other speakers. They include natural gas, coal gas, biomass gas, nuclear processes, and water. This drives both diversity and innovation. Many business models, some entirely new, are thus possible.

David Haberman pointed out that internal combustion engines (ICE) are an essential transition to other energy use methods. Fuel cells are becoming increasingly important as a transition target. Several types are under development, and some manufacturers were represented as exhibitors. He noted that oil companies are trying to minimize new developments, "damning with faint praise". We have to ignore that and get on with several tasks, including expanding the knowledge base, training implementers, streamlining regulation, making realistic risk & liability estimates, producing incentives, setting up insurance, expanding the supply base, spreading out investments, and rebudgeting public money.

Some hotbeds of research and development have emerged. One is Arizona Public Service Company, as described by Ray Hobbs. They are doing some significant innovation, including integrating technologies such as wind power to make coal gas, algae production in flues, and further conversion from algae to other fuels such as aviation and biodiesel.

In situ coal gasification is an especially promising technology which is being extensively researched in Wyoming. By definition this has to be done on a relatively large scale. Julio Friedmann of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory gave many details, including an account of a plant in Uzbekistan that has been running for 49 years now. Recent economic changes have made this technology much more attractive than ever before. Process control, subsidence, and groundwater contamination need better management.

Among the areas covered by Western Research Institute in Laramie are membranes for fuel cells. This is a critical point. Tom Barton pointed out that every membrane manufacturer must ask hard questions about cost, pressure & temperature parameters, quality control, contamination, scalability, and fabrication methods. Contamination from sulfur is an especially important consideration, as it is present in all hydrogen fuel stocks to at least some degree.

Liquefaction is at times necessary for gaseous fuel transport. John Barclay of Prometheus Energy has been researching and implementing this for many years. He pointed out that liquefying hydrogen takes about 10% of its thermal value, as compared to only 2% for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). A good intermediate process step for hydrogen is to use liquefied nitrogen for pre-cooling. Temperatures within these systems must be tightly tuned. He noted that several magnetic materials pick up a lot of heat, and are thus useful for cooling. The most interesting materials in this respect are Rare Earth compounds.

Another notable research organization is the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Director Gerry Groenwald gave one of the most exciting presentations of the conference. First, he clarified the difference between invention and innovation. He noted how several key technologies were invented by someone obscure and later popularized by a more well known innovator. Corollary to this is that governments have rarely, if ever, been involved in real innovation. His center avoids taking public money, instead working with corporate and private clients on specific projects. The client list is impressive. Ideal peer review is thus regarded as someone in the private sector investing cash.

Natural gas to hydrogen conversion is not really viable for economic reasons, according to Groenwald. Coal conversion is more promising as the bridge to a full-scale Hydrogen Economy. Ultimately, distributed production of liquid fuels to Hydrogen will work. Ethanol doesn't work because it has always generated debt from its subsidies, even in Brazil.

Specific products are expanding the range and depth of the Hydrogen Economy. Converted vehicles are now easily made. Models by ETEC of Vancouver and Intergalactic Hydrogen were available for rides. Forklifts and other vehicles that don't need license plates can now be produced in any quantity. Conversion of vehicles that need license plates is limited only by government regulations. It was clear to many at the conference that conversions to natural gas are an essential bridge to widespread full-hydrogen conversions. There are many possibilities with multi-fuel conversions as well.

Fuel cells by 3 manufacturers were on display. Versa Power fuel cells are significant because they use an interesting technology called solid oxide, and are especially suitable for stationary applications. NDC cells are built for exceptional durability in adverse environments. Intelligent Energy cells are built to address a wide variety of applications. Manufacturing processes are constantly being improved, with some, including Versa Power, now set up on continuous runs.

Rick Hurt detailed several ongoing product development projects at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Solar Hydrogen generation, vehicle conversions, electrolyzers, fuel cells, and integrated homes are among these.

Government regulations must be addressed. One whole session of the conference was devoted exclusively to this topic. Many regulations currently in effect are either irrational or beneficial only to the now obsolete Petroleum Economy. Extensive lobbying has to happen, and it must be done on small budgets.

The vision of a Hydrogen Economy is world-wide. Among the final presentations were accounts of ongoing projects in Turkey, Brazil, Israel, Canada, and Poland. There are many more in other countries as well. In Turkey, the International Centre for Hydrogen Technologies is coordinating several projects under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Overall, the tone of this conference was optimistic and cooperative. We have come a long way over the past 25 years. Specific projects and products need to be developed, but they are all doable in both private and public contexts. The vision of a Hydrogen Economy is more solid and viable than ever. This means that within the next few decades, the entire human race can derive much of its energy from sustainable and regenerative hydrogen streams.

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Five photographs and three podcasts were created by Michael at this conference as well. They will be announced as they become available. See www.teslaacademy.info

2008 Hydrogen Implementation Conference

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