bremidon t1_iwu0j5i wrote on November 18, 2022 at 9:58 AM

Reply to comment by rossco311 in Overhyping hydrogen as a fuel risks endangering net-zero goals by filosoful

>It's attached to all kinds of other things

That was kinda his point.

rossco311 t1_iwv156c wrote on November 18, 2022 at 3:48 PM

Indeed, and it's a valid point, but that doesn't mean hydrogen acquisition isn't a good solution. There are multiple ways of acquiring pure hydrogen without using power. One such method is combining elemental compounds with hydrogen atoms attached in a closed system. This allows hydrogen to be released in the reaction (and captured) in the process.

The idea of hydrogen being energy intensive to acquire comes from a limited consideration of the methods available to us. Just because we aren't doing them currently, doesn't mean it should stay that way.

bremidon t1_iwvbxn2 wrote on November 18, 2022 at 5:01 PM

What is that method called? I want to make sure we are talking about the same thing.

rossco311 t1_iwvum8a wrote on November 18, 2022 at 7:07 PM

One method I'm thinking of, I'm not certain the name of it.

A closed system where iron filings (Fe) are combined with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and the chemical reaction between them releases H2 (Hydrogen) and the remaining product is FESO4 (Iron Sulfate) and some water (H2O). This method was used to acquire hydrogen to fill gas balloons and airships back in the 1930's. The Iron Sulfate produced is also a valuable fertilizer for the agricultural industry.

There are many other methods as well and I'm certain that given the right appetite for hydrogen use, further development will be possible. Ultimately though you are right about the amount of time involved, we're decades from being at scale for production regardless.