See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Pellets of power designed to deliver hydrogen for tomorrow's vehicles
Source:
EurekAlert
URL Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-08/dnnl-pop081307.php
Published: Aug 22, 2007
Author: Geoff Harvey
Post Date: 2007-08-22 02:14:49 by farmfriend
Ping List: *Agriculture-Environment* Subscribe to *Agriculture-Environment*
Keywords: None
Views: 87
Comments: 4
New insights to be shared on use of solid ammonia borane for hydrogen storage Contact: Geoff Harvey BOSTON – Hydrogen may prove to be the fuel of the future in powering the effi cient, eco-friendly fuel cell vehicles of tomorrow. Developing a method to safely store, dispense and easily “refuel” the vehicle’s storage material with hydrogen has baffl ed researchers for years. However, a new and attractive storage medium being developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists may provide the “power of pellets” to fuel future transportation needs. The Department of Energy’s Chemical Hydrogen Storage Center of Excellence is investigating a hydrogen storage medium that holds promise in meeting long-term targets for transportation use. As part of the center, PNNL scientists are using solid ammonia borane, or AB, compressed into small pellets to serve as a hydrogen storage material. Each milliliter of AB weighs about three-quarters of a gram and harbors up to 1.8 liters of hydrogen. Researchers expect that a fuel system using small AB pellets will occupy less space and be lighter in weight than systems using pressurized hydrogen gas, thus enabling fuel cell vehicles to have room, range and performance comparable to today’s automobiles. “With this new understanding and our improved methods in working with ammonia borane,” said PNNL scientist Dave Heldebrant, “we’re making positive strides in developing a viable storage medium to provide reliable, environmentally friendly hydrogen power generation for future transportation needs.” A small pellet of solid ammonia borane (240 mg), as shown, is capable of storing relatively large quantities of hydrogen (0.5 liter) in a very small volume. PNNL scientists are learning to manipulate the release of hydrogen from AB at predictable rates. By varying temperature and manipulating AB feed rates to a reactor, researchers envision controlling the production of hydrogen and thus fuel cell power, much like a gas pedal regulates fuel to a car’s combustion engine. “Once hydrogen from the storage material is depleted, the AB pellets must be safely and effi ciently regenerated by way of chemical processing,” said PNNL scientist Don Camaioni. “This ‘refueling’ method requires chemically digesting or breaking down the solid spent fuel into chemicals that can be recycled back to AB with hydrogen.”
Pellets of power designed to deliver hydrogen for tomorrow's vehicles
geoffrey.harvey@pnl.gov
509-372-6083
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: farmfriend (#0)
Ammonia is made from Natural Gas.....won't the eco-nuts be disappointed to learn that?
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
Arnold has been pushing a hydrogen highway here in California. Robert Kennedy Jr. and the NRDC wrote his environmental policy. They all have financial interests in natural gas and because we can't build pipelines or use off shore hubs it will be expensive.
Its California. I did my time there. Nothing about the place surprises me, least of all the fleecing. Its not like eGray didn't show them all how it was done.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
Hydrogen is a loser.
Mark "I was real close to Building 7 when it fell down... That didn't sound like just a building falling down to me while I was running away from it. There's a lot of eyewitness testimony down there of hearing explosions. [..] and the whole time you're hearing "boom, boom, boom, boom, boom." I think I know an explosion when I hear it... — Former NYC Police Officer and 9/11 Rescue Worker Craig Bartmer
#2. To: mirage (#1)
#3. To: farmfriend (#2)
#4. To: farmfriend (#0)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest