One of the significant advantages of hydrogen energy is the availability of many methods for producing hydrogen. This helps to increase energy security and reduce dependence on certain types of raw materials. Hydrogen production can be carried out:
- the steam reforming method of methane and natural gas;
- using coal gasification;
- by electrolysis of water;
- pyrolysis method;
- partial oxidation method;
- biotechnological methods.
To date, the cheapest and most affordable way is steam conversion. According to experts, its use will take place at the initial stage of the introduction of the hydrogen economy. However, in the future, a transition to the use of renewable energy sources will still be needed, because a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is almost the main reason for the transition to hydrogen energy. As such, you can use solar energy or wind energy, which allows electrolysis of water.
The ability to focus hydrogen production in large enterprises involves reducing the cost of production, but at the same time, additional costs are required for transporting hydrogen to special gas stations. Alternatively, hydrogen production on a small scale is considered directly at hydrogen speakers.
Now hydrogen is obtained from many sources of raw materials. Next, consider the most popular of them.
Hydrocarbons
Today, almost half of the hydrogen production is carried out by the method of steam conversion of natural gas (methane). This process is the mixing of methane with water vapor at a temperature of 700 - 1000 ° C under high pressure in the presence of a catalyst.
Coal gasification
Coal gasification is the oldest way to produce hydrogen. The process is as follows: coal is heated to a temperature of 800 -1300 ° C in the absence of oxygen. FutureGen designed a new hydrogen power plant based on the production of a core element in this way. It is supposed to soon be built in the United States.
Biomass
Hydrogen is extracted from biomass in two ways: biochemical and thermochemical. In biochemical production, hydrogen is produced by various bacteria, for example, Rodobacter speriodes. The thermochemical method involves heating biomass to a temperature of 500 - 800 ° C (wood waste) in the absence of air access. The result is the release of H2, CO and CH4.
Garbage
Technological progress involves finding new methods for generating hydrogen, which is the production of hydrogen from garbage. This method is already being actively implemented.
Chemical reaction of water with metals
Purdue University of America has invented a method for generating hydrogen from water through the use of an aluminum alloy. It involves the formation of pellets from an alloy of gallium with aluminum, which are then placed in a container of water. A chemical reaction occurs that produces hydrogen.
Water is electrolyzed by hydrogen generators, converting heat from industrial plants or the environment into electricity, and decomposing water.
Hydrogen production from energy sources, such as wind, sun, atomic energy, is so far only being studied by scientists. Studies show that these methods have the prospect of widespread use in the future. They are planned to be implemented in the next few years. Of course, at first, the cost of hydrogen produced by such methods will be high, but then its rate will gradually reach the optimum level.
At the moment, hydrogen is used in the manufacture of gasoline, ammonia, and the production of hydrogen peroxide is not without it .