Natural Gas to generate hydrogen, fuel cell?

In summary, there is debate about whether or not steam reforming of natural gas to generate hydrogen is beneficial while global warming is an issue.
  • #1
4220Fox
10
0
Hi all, one last question for today - Given steam reforming of natural gas to generate hydrogen, what is the major difficulty with it with respect to most fuel cells? Thank you,
 
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  • #2
I'm not sure there is a difficulty with it. You can reform it or use it directly.
 
  • #3
So we would use the hydrogen (Made from steam reforming via natural gas) to make the fuel cells then? Thank you-
 
  • #4
Any other fuel cell pros in the community?
 
  • #5
I'm not really sure what you are asking. Could you rephrase? Have you done any of your own research?
 
  • #6
This kind of sounds like an assignment/homework question.

Can you please post your requirements?
 
  • #7
4220Fox said:
So we would use the hydrogen (Made from steam reforming via natural gas) to make the fuel cells then? Thank you-
I think I've seen (a test setup described) where the hydrogen content in natural gas is used by having the fuel cell connected to the town gas system and incorporating a filter to extract only the light molecules of hydrogen and use that as its fuel.
 
  • #8
4220Fox said:
Hi all, one last question for today - Given steam reforming of natural gas to generate hydrogen, what is the major difficulty with it with respect to most fuel cells? Thank you,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_reforming

Disadvantages of reforming for supplying fuel cells

The reformer–fuel-cell system is still being researched but in the near term, systems would continue to run on existing fuels, such as natural gas or gasoline or diesel. However, there is an active debate about whether using these fuels to make hydrogen is beneficial while global warming is an issue. Fossil fuel reforming does not eliminate carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere but reduces the carbon dioxide emissions as compared to the burning of conventional fuels due to increased efficiency.[8] However, by turning the release of carbon dioxide into a point source rather than distributed release, carbon capture and storage becomes a possibility, which would prevent the carbon dioxide's release to the atmosphere, while adding to the cost of the process.
 

1. What is natural gas and how is it used to generate hydrogen?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel composed mainly of methane. It is extracted from underground reservoirs and can be used to generate hydrogen through a process called steam methane reforming. In this process, natural gas is reacted with high temperature steam to produce hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide.

2. Why is natural gas used to produce hydrogen?

Natural gas is the most commonly used feedstock for hydrogen production due to its abundance, low cost, and efficiency. It also produces fewer emissions compared to other fossil fuels, making it a cleaner option for hydrogen generation.

3. What is a fuel cell and how does it work?

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel, such as hydrogen, into electricity. It works by combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce water and electricity, without any combustion or moving parts.

4. What are the major advantages of using natural gas to generate hydrogen for fuel cells?

There are several advantages to using natural gas for hydrogen production. It is a readily available and reliable source of energy, produces fewer emissions compared to other fossil fuels, and can be used in existing infrastructure. It also has a high energy density, making it a compact and efficient fuel source.

5. Are there any drawbacks to using natural gas for hydrogen production?

While natural gas is a commonly used feedstock for hydrogen production, it is still a fossil fuel and therefore contributes to carbon emissions. Additionally, the process of steam methane reforming also produces carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. However, advancements in carbon capture technology can help mitigate these emissions and make natural gas a cleaner option for hydrogen production.

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