Hydrogen Use in an Urban District: Energy and Environmental Comparisons

Abstract

Hydrogen technology is becoming ever more relevant because hydrogen use can help in containing greenhouse gas emission if CO2 capture and storage technologies are implemented in the hydrogen production pathway (when hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels). This work aims at carrying out a comparative analysis of possible energy scenarios in urban districts. A medium-small Italian city is considered as a reference case, and its energy consumption both for domestic and industrial use is evaluated. The current situation in which conventional technologies meet the energy needs is compared with a hypothetical scenario where hydrogen is largely used. Two options of hydrogen production from commercially ready technologies are investigated: coal gasification and steam methane reforming, as well as hydrogen use in advanced energy systems for transports and for thermal and electric energy generations. Also, the environmental impacts are evaluated. This study is particularly focused on greenhouse gas emissions with specific reference to carbon dioxide. The final goal is to define an alternative scenario, quantifying the energy needs and the relative environmental impacts in order to obtain quantitative information on the environmental benefits of the hydrogen scenario, as well as to identify its possible structural and functional criticalities.

Auto Generative Capacitive Mixing for Power Conversion of Sea and River Water by the Use of Membranes

“…In order to have a sustainable economy, energy supply, and environmental preservation, the human society needs a gradual conversion to renewable energy sources [4] and shortly to CO2neutral energy supply [5]. In the light of energy supply and the need for more renewable energy resources, salinity gradient energy technologies hold many advantages.…”

“…The first large scale efforts of salinity energy will be located at dikes with large buffers allowing for a highly dynamic supply [7]-similar to that of hydroelectricity. In comparison to C02-capture and storage [5], some new infrastructure is also needed and thus one can say that building salinity difference energy infrastructure offers renewable and carbon neutral electricity supply where C02-neutral infrastructure construction only offers the latter. Another argument for salinity gradient energy technologies is that, in comparison to, e.g., wind energy, it is hardly not developed, it has a very low visual impact and is typically close to urban district at river deltas.…”

On the Modeling of Steam Methane Reforming

“…CH4 + HzO -CO + 3H2 A/7298 = 206 kj/mol (1) CO + H20 ^ C 02 + H2 AHm = -41.1 kJ/mol (2) CH4 + 2HzO ^ C 02 + 4H2 A//298 = 164.9 kJ/mol (3)…”

“…The reduced computational time with high model validity is the main concern in this study. A volume based reaction model is Greenhouse gases emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels have severe environmental and health issues [1], There is a need to look for availability of clean energy resources [2], A lot of research is being carried out for wind, wave, and hydro energy resources [3][4][5]. Another available choice is the hydrogen that has lot of advantages over fossil fuels such as clean combustion and higher heating value [6], Hydrogen is also used in refineries for desulfurization, hydrotreating, and for production of chemicals [7], Hydrogen is produced by a number of ways such as electrolysis, SMR, auto C 02 methane reforming, partial oxidation reforming, and some extensions of these processes.…”

Renewable Hydrogen Production Using Sailing Ships

“…Discussions of the importance of renewably produced hydrogen for an emission-free economy can be found in Refs. [10][11][12][13][14].…”