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United Airlines plans to purchase up to 100 hydrogen-electric engines
United CEO Scott Kirby says hydrogen-electric engines are “one of the most promising paths to zero-emission air travel for smaller aircraft.” While there is excitement in some quarters regarding the potential of new, lower-emission forms of aviation, some within the industry are more circumspect about how such innovations will develop over the coming years. (www.cnbc.com) 更多...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
So, when Hydrogen "combusts", the most common substance resulting is water. The hydrogen atoms mix with the oxygen atoms and create the essential H20 formula, resulting in a light residue of water that may escape as water vapor or condense on surfaces near where the hydrogen is burned. Imagine a plane at 40,000 feet covered in a "light residue of ice"! I think this is one of the reasons they've never developed this for autos. In warm climates, it would be great, but imagine water dripping from exhaust pipes in North Dakota in January!
First off Hydrogen is not “burned” in a fuel cell it is converted to electricity. Because it is producing electricity propeller driven aircraft just use electric motors to turn the props and the fuel cells do not need to be out on the wings.
Boeing first flew a Fuel Cell powered plane in 2008 and has continues to experiment with them as technology develops. Lockheed Martin has been using fuel cells in UAVs for over a decade so the use of fuel cells in aircraft is proven but the logistics of transporting and storing fuel remain.
Also of note but not aviation related both the German and Italian navies use fuel cells to power the Type 212 submarines. This enables them to remain submerged for extended periods of time without a nuclear reactor.
Boeing first flew a Fuel Cell powered plane in 2008 and has continues to experiment with them as technology develops. Lockheed Martin has been using fuel cells in UAVs for over a decade so the use of fuel cells in aircraft is proven but the logistics of transporting and storing fuel remain.
Also of note but not aviation related both the German and Italian navies use fuel cells to power the Type 212 submarines. This enables them to remain submerged for extended periods of time without a nuclear reactor.
Hydrogen = electricity = fossil fuel. What is the point?
Amazing, the issue is reduced to a simple one-line equation. Seriously, at this time we are still in the development stage of multiple technologies which might help reduce our headlong rush over the cliff. To suggest that any particular development effort has no point is a misunderstanding of how science and technology evolve.
And let me suggest an edit to your equation: Hydrogen = electricity = energy source, where the energy source may or may not be fossil fuel and even if it is how you do that conversion can may a big difference in greenhouse gas emissions.
And let me suggest an edit to your equation: Hydrogen = electricity = energy source, where the energy source may or may not be fossil fuel and even if it is how you do that conversion can may a big difference in greenhouse gas emissions.
Agreed Bruce, what viable energy source is available in 2021 to produce the electrical demands of a electrolysis plant to produce the hydrogen? I can think of only 2: natural gas and nuclear power plants. I think the issue is not can it be done but is it cost efficient from an environmental standpoint when considering the total impact of all the needed components to make it work. My personal opinion is that our government and interested corporations should be funding R&D to solve the outstanding issues of power storage ( battery hydrogen fuel cell etc) and realistic green power source for the electrical demands of the future.
One thing hydrogen is good for is storing energy. One of the flaws of solar and wind is the sun does not always shine nor the wind blow so it is kinda useless on a grid because you need a constant back up of base load and that kinda leaves the solar and wind redundant. But you could use solar and wind to convert water to hydrogen and then use it as an energy source that has a steady output.