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U.S. Department of Energy – Hydrogen from Natural Gas and Coal: The Road to a Sustainable Energy Future

H. Wayne Harper, P.E.

Course Outline

This four hour course provides an overview of the world’s fossil fuel supply and demand scenarios, highlights the advantages of hydrogen as a carrier fuel, and details the technologies necessary for cost effective hydrogen production from natural gas and coal.  Additionally, 2011 technological updates for the following are provided:

After completing this course, the student will have a greater understanding of impending hydrogen economy and the interim steps necessary to achieve this milestone.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for energy, petroleum, mechanical, civil and environmental engineers.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendee of this course will understand 1) the current and future status of fossil fuel use and needs, 2) the characteristics of hydrogen as an energy carrier, and 3) the technologies and economics necessary to transition into future hydrogen energy systems.  This knowledge could prove invaluable for engineers, consultants, and environmentalists seeking to initiate or broaden their understanding of the impending hydrogen economy.

Course Introduction

Fossil fuels are currently utilized throughout the world to power transportation, generate electricity, and heat our homes.  As world crude oil production nears its peak, demand is ever increasing.  Continually consuming mass quantities of fossil fuels has had an adverse effect on the environment and is believed to be a major contributor to global warming.  It is obvious that a new, abundant, economical, and clean energy source is needed for the future.

The United States, in an effort to provide energy security and cleaner emissions, has initiated significant research and development programs utilizing hydrogen as an energy carrier.  To satisfy near and mid-term goals in the transition to a hydrogen economy, advanced technologies using natural gas and coal to produce the large amounts of hydrogen are being vigorously pursued.  This course focuses on: 1) developing technologies for large quantity hydrogen generation; 2) corresponding energy economics; 3) application to the FreedomCar Program in development of fuel cell technology for light duty vehicles; 4) application to the FutureGen Program in building the world’s first, coal based, near zero-emission electricity and hydrogen plant.

Course Content

The course content is contained in the following PDF file:

U.S. Department of Energy – Hydrogen from Natural Gas and Coal: The Road to a Sustainable Energy Future

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
I      Introduction
II     Key Drivers
III    FE Hydrogen from Fossil Fuels - Today's Technology
       ·    Hydrogen Demand Scenarios
       ·    FE Program Goal
       ·    Hydrogen and Natural Gas
       ·    Hydrogen from Coal
       ·    Spotlight on FutureGen
       ·    Delivery
IV    Hydrogen from Fossil Fuels - A Budget for the Hydrogen Hydrogen from Fossil Fuels Program
V     Future Technologies to Produce Hydrogen from Natural Gas
VI    Future Technologies to Produce Hydrogen from Coal
VII   FE Associated Programs
VIII  Integrated Program Management and Coordination
Acronyms
Appendix

Attachment Listing - (Source:  Wikipedia)

Attachment A - FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies – 2011 Updates
Attachment B - Fossil Fuel Reforming – 2011 Updates
Attachment C - FutureGen – 2011 Updates
Attachment D - Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle – 2011 Updates
Attachment E - Synthetic Fuel – 2011 Updates

Course Summary

Humans currently consume large amounts energy to support our diverse lifestyles.  Our growing world reliance on fossil fuels, in particular crude oil, has evolved over time to where future demands will soon far overreach available supplies.  This has already occurred in the United States, where a majority of consumed oil is imported.  To alleviate this domestic energy insecurity and to improve the environment by reduced fuel emissions, the United States is pursuing varied research and development efforts for the next generation energy source – hydrogen.

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

United States Department of Energy – Energy Sources – Hydrogen via http://www.energy.gov/energysources/hydrogen.htm
United States Department of Energy – Hydrogen Program via http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/
United States Energy Information Association – Energy Kids – Hydrogen via http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=hydrogen_home-basics
Hydrogen Energy Center via http://www.hydrogenenergycenter.com/
International Association of Hydrogen Energy via http://www.iahe.com/

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.