HYDROGEN: A VERSATILE ELEMENT

摘要: This article points out two reasons why hydrogen is considered by many scientists as potentially an ideal general fuel: (1) hydrogen, in water, one of the most abundant and widely distributed elements on earth's surface, (2) burning merely produces water again, with no deleterious environmental effects. A review made production methods, including electrolytic processes thermochemical cycles. Since primary sources energy are required to produce four possible discussed, wind, oceanic thermal gradients, solar energy, nuclear energy. It predicted that a economy will begin large-scale electrolysis plants, using electricity generated reactors. could be used near its site. The storage transmission and, more important, it generation cycles then developed concurrently. At present, major consumers anmonia petrochemical industries. Other uses likely grow importance future follows: transmission, peak shaving or load leveling (the use electrical during times when supply exceeds demand), coal liquefaction gasification, fuel for industrial furnaces, domestic appliances transportation, reduction iron ore steel. There are, however, certain characteristics which limit applications. One problem -- obtain same heat content gasoline methane, volume 2.5 3 large required. Another potential embrittlement metals alloys containment transport.