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This article looks like a fine discussion about the economics of hydrogen production, but unless I've missed something it skips over the immense storage difficu
by Majromax 6y ago
This article looks like a fine discussion about the economics of hydrogen production, but unless I've missed something it skips over the immense storage difficulty.
Hydrogen is a difficult thing to manage in quantity. Its density is fantastically low, so storing it in gas form requires absurd pressures -- an inherent risk to any vehicle. Storing it in liquid form goes a long way towards solving the density/pressure problem, but now the system must have a full cryogenic process to keep the hydrogen liquified. (Worse yet: over time hydrogen embrittles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement) metals, making storage even more complicated)
This isn't much different than the problems faced by rockets, and it's why liquid hydrogen is not considered a 'storable propellant' for long-duration flight.
In a zero-net-carbon economy, residual demand for high power density may still have to be filled by some kind of bio-derived or synthetic hydrocarbon.
- mcot2 6y agoNot to mention the efficiency of converting the stored Hydrogen to power. It’s hard to beat the efficiency of a battery and electric motor.
- dmix 6y agoNow I'm curious how Hyundai or the stations actually produce the hydrogen fuel. Edit: this video had a good overview of the various production methods, including on-site at the fuel station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7MzFfuNOtY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7MzFfuNOtY
- darksaints 6y agoWe don't need to rely on metals for hydrogen storage...composites work just fine. And for use cases like maritime and aviation power systems, cryogenic storage isn't necessary. At all. Because even with simple styrofoam insulation, consumption rates vastly exceed evaporation rates.