A Solar-Hydrogen Energy System

by E.W. Justi

Overview

This book concerns one of the more persistent of the ideas that have been discussed in journals devoted to energy science during the last few years. It deals with the concept that hydrogen should be the medium of energy and the sun should be the source (and, in the interim, perhaps also coal, biomass, or nuclear fuel). The translation has been carried out by Dr. W. Schuh and Mrs. K. Claus in collaboration with me. Certain difficulties confronted us at an early stage, and our resolution of them requires some explanation. First, the chapters that we received from the original German authors were written at varying times during the 1980s. Some years later, for the anticipated publication in the United States, about half of the chapters were completely rewritten. The translation was done in 1984-1986. Second, the original volume is a German book. Most of the examples in it refer to the Federal Republic of Germany, although some extend to Europe in general.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461289982
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/12/2011
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1987
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

1 Investigation, Evaluation, and Recovery Plan for an Ailing Energy Economy.- 1.1. Low Conversion Efficiency and the Effect of Power Plant Size on Cost.- 1.2. Cooling-Water Shortages Limit the Construction of New Power Plants near Population Centers.- 1.3. CO2 Pollution of the Atmosphere Threatens a Harmful Change of Climate.- 1.4. Cost of Long-Distance Energy Transfer through Pressure Gas Pipelines May Be Significantly Cheaper than the Cost of Electrical Transmission.- 1.5. Recent Advances toward a Hydrogen Technology.- 1.6. The Possible Structure of a Hydrogen Economy.- 1.7. Right Time for a Transition from a Hydrogen to a Solar—Hydrogen Economy.- 1.8. Conclusions.- References.- 2 The Hydrogen Economy.- 2.1. Causes of Prospective Energy and Raw Materials Shortages.- 2.2. Future Energy Sources and Their Media.- 2.3. Future Energy Medium.- 2.4. Origin of the Hydrogen-Economy Concept.- References.- 3 Time Frame for Building a Hydrogen Technology.- 3.1. Energy Supplies and Energy Consumption.- 3.2. Energy Needs in the Federal Republic of Germany.- 3.3. Exhaustion of the Primary Energy Carriers.- 3.4. Controlled Nuclear Fusion.- 3.5. Fast Breeder Reactor.- 3.6. Hydrogen Technology.- 3.7. Time Frame for the Introduction of a Hydrogen Technology.- References.- 4 Direct Energy Conversion.- 4.1. Conversion Instead of Production.- 4.2. Direct and Indirect Energy Conversion—The DEC Matrix.- 4.3. Selected Examples of Direct Energy Conversion Effects.- 4.4. Conversion (and Production) of Wind Energy.- 4.5. Photovoltaic Direct Energy Conversion.- 4.6. Thermoelectric Direct Energy Conversion Using the Seebeck Effect.- References.- 5 The Basis for the Use of Solar Energy.- 5.1. Characteristics of Solar Radiation.- 5.2. Population and Living Standards.- 5.3. Use of Solar Energy on a Small Scale.- 5.4. Methods for the Collection and Conversion of Solar Energy.- 5.5. Use of Oceanic Thermal Gradients.- 5.6. Silicon Protective-Layer Cells.- References.- 6 Solar Cells and Solar Power Stations.- 6.1. Technological Problems Associated with Lowering the Costs of Terrestrial Silicon Solar Cells.- 6.2. Fundamental Considerations of Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells.- 6.3. Description of Silicon Manufacture.- 6.4. Long-lived Heterojunctions from Thin-layer Solar Cells Consisting of CdS-Cu2-xS.- 6.5. Service Life of Cadmium Sulfide Solar Cells.- 6.6. Procedures for the Production of Thin-Layer Solar Cells from CdS—Cu2-xS.- 6.7. Solar Thermal Generating Stations with Optical Concentrators.- 6.8. One-Megawatt Solar Power Tower of the European Economic Community.- 6.9. 400 kWth High-Temperature Solar Experimental Plant at Georgia Institute of Technology.- 6.10. Solar Power Plants in the United States.- 6.11. Solar Satellite Power Stations.- References.- 7 The Photolytic Production of Hydrogen.- 7.1. The Production of Hydrogen by Means of the Phohemical Decomposition of Water in Plants.- 7.2. An Introduction to the Production of Hydrogen by the Phohemical Decompostion of Water Using Monomolecular Layers.- 7.3. Photoelectrochemical Production of Hydrogen.- References.- 8 The Electrolytic Process for the Production of Hydrogen.- 8.1. Thermodynamics of Water Decomposition.- 8.2. Construction of Practical Water Electrolyzers.- 8.3. Future Possibilities and New-Type Electrolyzers.- 8.4. Eloflux Water Electrolysis Cell.- 8.5. Thermochemical Processes.- 8.6. Conclusions.- References.- 9 The Transmission of Energy over Large Distances.- 9.1. Direct Transmission of Electrical Energy.- 9.2. Transmission through Directed Microwave Radiation.- 9.3. Transmission by Means of Hydrogen.- 9.4. Differences between Pipeline Networks for Natural Gas and for Hydrogen.- 9.5. Operating Hydrogen Pipelines and Other Networks.- 9.6. Distribution of Hydrogen in Transportable Steel Cylinders.- 9.7. Energy Storage and Transport with Liquid and Slush Hydrogen.- 9.8. Conclusions.- References.- 10 The Transmission of Hydrogen in High-Pressure Pipelines and the Storage of Hydrogen in Pipes.- 10.1. Calculations for a 2150-Kilometer Hydrogen Pipeline and Distribution Network with a Capacity of 1010 Nm3 H2 per Year and with Three Pressure Stations Used for Transmission at 100, 60, and 40 Atmospheres.- 10.2. Thermodynamic Optimization of Hydrogen Transport and Pipeline Storage.- 10.3. Quantitative Calculation of the Recovery of Energy.- References.- 11 The Storage of Hydrogen.- 11.1. Thermal Energy Storage.- 11.2. Electrochemical Energy Storage.- 11.3. Superconducting Magnets.- 11.4. Energy Storage in Flywheels.- 11.5. Storage of Hydrogen.- 11.6. Conclusions.- References.- 12 Safety Aspects of Using Hydrogen.- 12.1. Physical Data and Safety-Engineering Quantities.- 12.2. Physical Dangers.- 12.3. Chemical Dangers.- 12.4. Safety Instructions.- 12.5. Experience in Safety Aspects of Dealing with Hydrogen.- 12.6. Conclusions.- References.- 13 The Conversion of Hydrogen into Electricity by Means of Fuel Cells.- 13.1. Introduction.- 13.2. Highly Reversible Production of Electrical Energy from Hydrogen by Means of Hydrogen—Oxygen Fuel Cells.- 13.3. Schematic Construction of a Hydrogen—Oxygen Fuel Cell.- 13.4. Alkaline Low-Temperature Fuel Cells with Raney Catalysts.- 13.5. Medium-Temperature Fuel Cells with Phosphoric Acid Electrolyte.- 13.6. Conclusions.- References.- 14 The Catalytic Combustion of Hydrogen.- 14.1. Introduction.- 14.2. Direct Combustion of Hydrogen.- 14.3. Catalytic Combustion of Hydrogen.- 14.4. Properties of Catalytic Hydrogen Burners.- 14.5. State of Development of Catalytic Hydrogen Burners.- 14.6. Safety Aspects of Catalytic Combustion.- 14.7. Prospect.- References.- 15 Industrial Applications of Hydrogen.- 15.1. Ammonia Synthesis.- 15.2. Synfuel Production.- 15.3. Direct Reduction of Iron Ore.- 15.4. Other Possibilities for the Industrial Use of Hydrogen.- 15.5. Prospects.- References.- 16 Hydrogen as a Fuel in Automotive and Air Transportation.- 16.1. Electrical Propulsion of Vehicles by Means of Fuel Cells and Electric Motors.- 16.2. Possible Use of Internal Combustion Engines Powered by Hydrogen for Automotive Transportation.- 16.3. Hydrogen as an Aircraft Fuel.- 16.4. Safety Aspects.- 16.5. Costs.- 16.6. Problems of the Transition.- References.