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.

Authored by 50 top academic, government and industry researchers, this handbook explores mature, evolving technologies for a clean, economically viable alternative to non-renewable energy. In so doing, it also discusses such broader topics as the environmental impact, education, safety and regulatory developments. The text is all-encompassing, covering a wide range that includes hydrogen as an energy carrier, hydrogen for storage of renewable energy, and incorporating hydrogen technologies into existing technologies.

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.

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 describes the challenges and solutions the energy sector faces by shifting towards a hydrogen based fuel economy. The most current and up-to-date efforts of countries and leaders in the automotive sector are reviewed as they strive to develop technology and find solutions to production, storage, and distribution challenges. Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel when burned with oxygen and is often used with electrochemical cells, or combustion in internal engines, to power vehicles and electric devices. This book offers unique solutions to integrating renewable sources of energy like wind or solar power into the production of hydrogen fuel, making it a cost effective, efficient and truly renewable alternative fuel.

Lately it has become a matter of conventional wisdom that hydrogen will solve many of our energy and environmental problems. Nearly everyone -- environmentalists, mainstream media commentators, industry analysts, General Motors, and even President Bush -- seems to expect emission-free hydrogen fuel cells to ride to the rescue in a matter of years, or at most a decade or two. Not so fast, says Joseph Romm. In The Hype about Hydrogen, he explains why hydrogen isn't the quick technological fix it's cracked up to be, and why cheering for fuel cells to sweep the market is not a viable strategy for combating climate change. Buildings and factories powered by fuel cells may indeed become common after 2010, Joseph Romm argues, but when it comes to transportation, the biggest source of greenhouse-gas emissions, hydrogen is unlikely to have a significant impact before 2050. The Hype about Hydrogen offers a hype-free explanation of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, takes a hard look at the practical difficulties of transitioning to a hydrogen economy, and reveals why, given increasingly strong evidence of the gravity of climate change, neither government policy nor business investment should be based on the belief that hydrogen cars will have meaningful commercial success in the near or medium term. Romm, who helped run the federal government's program on hydrogen and fuel cells during the Clinton administration, provides a provocative primer on the politics, business, and technology of hydrogen and climate protection.

Ames Laboratory, Iowa, USA