This book explores the potential of hydrogen combustion in thermal engines and serves as a foundation for future research. Hydrogen, a well-established energy carrier, has been used in internal combustion engines for centuries, but despite progress and industry interest, hydrogen engines have yet to reach mass production. In light of recent efforts to combat climate change with clean energy and environmentally-friendly technologies, the use of hydrogen in thermal engines is gaining momentum. This book examines the unique challenges of hydrogen combustion due to its wide flammability limits, high auto-ignition temperature, and high diffusivity. It reviews current knowledge on the fundamental and practical aspects of hydrogen combustion and considers current developments and potential future advancement.

to the German Edition This book is based on published material, oral presentations and lecture courses, as well as the author's personal research in the specific field of space technology and in the general areas of energy storage and transfer, and cryogenics. The science and technology of liquid hydrogen-once essential prere quisites for the rapid development of space technology-are now also proving to be more and more important for the energy production of the future. Hydrogen as an energy carrier can generally mediate the existing disparity between nuclear energy and regenerative energy, both of which are indispensable for the future. Hydrogen, as a secondary energy carrier, can be produced from these primary energy sources with minimal environmental impact and without the detrimental, long-term pollution effects of current fossil fuel technology. Hydrogen, therefore, represents the ultimate in energy technology. The initial, large-scale application of hydrogen as a secondary energy was as a high-energy rocket propellant. The procedures for its large scale liquefaction, storage and employment were generally developed in the U.S. Currently in Europe similar activities are being conducted only in France. The effort in West Germany involves testing hydrogen-oxygen and hydrogen-fluorine rocket engines, studying also the physical and technical characteristics of slush hydrogen-mixture of the solid and liquid phase-and is concentrating currently on R&D applications of liquid hydrogen as an alternate fuel. Similar activities are also being conducted in Japan and Canada.

The announcement of a hydrogen fuel initiative in the President's 2003 State of the Union speech substantially increased interest in the potential for hydrogen to play a major role in the nation's long-term energy future. Prior to that event, DOE asked the National Research Council to examine key technical issues about the hydrogen economy to assist in the development of its hydrogen R&D program. Included in the assessment were the current state of technology; future cost estimates; CO2 emissions; distribution, storage, and end use considerations; and the DOE RD&D program. The report provides an assessment of hydrogen as a fuel in the nation's future energy economy and describes a number of important challenges that must be overcome if it is to make a major energy contribution. Topics covered include the hydrogen end-use technologies, transportation, hydrogen production technologies, and transition issues for hydrogen in vehicles.

This book explores the potential of hydrogen combustion in thermal engines and serves as a foundation for future research. Hydrogen, a well-established energy carrier, has been used in internal combustion engines for centuries, but despite progress and industry interest, hydrogen engines have yet to reach mass production. In light of recent efforts to combat climate change with clean energy and environmentally-friendly technologies, the use of hydrogen in thermal engines is gaining momentum. This book examines the unique challenges of hydrogen combustion due to its wide flammability limits, high auto-ignition temperature, and high diffusivity. It reviews current knowledge on the fundamental and practical aspects of hydrogen combustion and considers current developments and potential future advancement.

Summarizes U.S. energy history 1949-2007 in tables and figures. Covers all major forms of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy) and total energy by activity (e.g., production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices). Also includes financial indicators related to energy; international energy; environmental indicators; and data unit conversions. Key long-term trends are graphically illustrated in special section called Energy Perspectives.

Liquid hydrogen is shown to be the ideal fuel for civil transport aircraft, as well as for many types of military aircraft. Hydrogen Aircraft Technology discusses the potential of hydrogen for subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic applications. Designs with sample configurations of aircraft for all three speed categories are presented, in addition to performance comparisons to equivalent designs for aircraft using conventional kerosine-type fuel and configurations for aircraft using liquid methane fuel. Other topics discussed include conceptual designs of the principal elements of fuel containment systems required for cryogenic fuels, operational elements (e.g., pumps, valves, pressure regulators, heat exchangers, lines and fittings), modifications for turbine engines to maximize the benefit of hydrogen, safety aspects compared to kerosine and methane fueled designs, equipment and facility designs for servicing hydrogen-fueled aircraft, production methods for liquid hydrogen, and the environmental advantages for using liquid hydrogen. The book also presents a plan for conducting the necessary development of technology and introducing hydrogen fuel into the worldwide civil air transport industry. Hydrogen Aircraft Technology will provide fascinating reading for anyone interested in aircraft and hydrogen fuel designs.

Ames Laboratory, Iowa, USA

This book highlights the opportunities and the challenges of introducing hydrogen as alternative transport fuel from an economic, technical and environmental point of view. Through its multi-disciplinary approach the book provides researchers, decision makers and policy makers with a solid and wide-ranging knowledge base concerning the hydrogen economy.

This book fills the gap for concise but comprehensive literature on this interdisciplinary topic, involving chemical, physical, biological and engineering challenges. It provides broad coverage of the most important fields of modern hydrogen technology: hydrogen properties, production, storage, conversion to power, and applications in materials science. In so doing, the book covers all the pertinent materials classes: metal hydrides, inorganic porous solids, organic materials, and nanotubes. The authors present the entire view from fundamental research to viable devices and systems, including the latest scientific results and discoveries, practical approaches to design and engineering, as well as functioning prototypes and advanced systems.

Given the backdrop of intense interest and widespread discussion on the prospects of a hydrogen energy economy, this book aims to provide an authoritative and up-to-date scientific account of hydrogen generation using solar energy and renewable sources such as water. While the technological and economic aspects of solar hydrogen generation are evolving, the scientific principles underlying various solar-assisted water splitting schemes already have a firm footing. This book aims to expose a broad-based audience to these principles. This book spans the disciplines of solar energy conversion, electrochemistry, photochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, materials chemistry, device physics/engineering, and biology.