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Hydrogen Energy Progress—VIII (Proceedings of the 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conference
h~t. J. Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 16. No. 4, pp. 283-284, 1991. Printed in Great Britain.
0366 3199/91 $3.00 + 0.00 Pergamon Press plc. International Association for Hydrogen Energy.
BOOK REVIEW
(Receh~ed J~r publication 28 Not~ember 19901
Hydrogen Energy Progress--VIII (Proceedings of the 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Honolulu and Waikoloa, Hawaii, U.S.A., 22--27 July 1990). Edited by T. N. Veziro~lu and P . K . Takahashi. Pergamon Press. 1990.3 Volumes, 1594 text pages, Price US$365. This three-volume series contains 137 out of a total of 256 papers that were presented at the 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, held in Hawaii, U.S.A., July 1990. These are appropriately grouped subject-wise into four sections (called chapters), titled: Transitions to Hydrogen Energy, Production, Storage and Distribution, and Utilization of Hydrogen, respectively. From the titles and subject coverage of the papers, it is apparent that the main thrust of the Conference was on the possible role of hydrogen in the development and promotion of solar-derived renewable energy sources, The proceedings are appropriately prefaced by an eloquent presentation by Professor Winter of DLR, Stuttgart, on the topic, "Hydrogen and Solar Energy", in which the author has portrayed the elements of a 21st century global energy scenario based almost wholly on solar and renewable energy sources with hydrogen and electricity as the twin vectors. This is backed up by another article by Dr Nitsch of the same organization on the broad features, merits and techno-economic implications of a hydrogen energy distribution system, Some of the other articles worth mentioning in this group (Vol. I, Chapters A-I and A-2) are: a status review EuroQuebec project which envisages a large scale export of surplus hydro-electricity from Quebec (Canada) to Europe via electrolytic conversion to hydrogen, a similar proposal for export of solar power from the Libyan desert to Central Europe, overviews of on-going hydrogen energy research and development (HE R&D) programs of U.S.A. and Switzerland, economic and societal aspects of transition to hydrogen energy economy and institutional back-up strategies achieving quicker and wider spread of hydrogen usage in the energy sector. There are 53 articles on hydrogen production, distributed in six chapters of Vols 1 and 2. These relate to practically all known techniques of water-splitting, namely, high temperature thermolysis and thermochemical cycles, water- and watervapour electrolysis in aqueous and solid oxide electrolytes, photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical and photobiological processes. Worth special mention are the research papers and expert state-of-the-art reviews on photoelectrochemical processes, septum solar cells, thermochemical hydrogen production, thermodynamic exergy analysis of electrolytic and thermochemical processes, and high temperature hydrogen separation membranes, On the subject of hydrogen storage and distribution, there are 38 papers in four chapters of Vols 2 and 3. These relate to the dual modes of storage as liquefied hydrogen (LH2) and metal
hydrides (MH), except for a stray couple of papers on storage by absorption in actuated carbon. The papers of LH2 storage relate mainly to container improvements to minimize boil-off losses, LH2 handling and transport, and direct injection to automobile engines. There is an interesting paper on a practical laboratory plant for small scale liquefaction of hydrogen. The papers on metal hydrides include some excellent contributions from China (P.R.C.) which, in the past few years, has made rapid strides in this area of materials research. The Chinese contributions relate mainly to new zirconium- and titanium-based alloy formulations which seem to hold out great promise for hydrogen storage applications. For the readers' benefit, Professor Deyou Bao has given an excellent overview of his country's R & D activity in hydrogen and hydrides technology. Also for special mention are two papers from India: one, reporting the synthesis and characterization of new lightweight La Mg intermetallics with high hydrogen storage capacity and other desirable features, and the other, on the use of metal hydrides for thermochemical heat pump applications. The section on hydrogen-utilization consists of 29 papers in four chapters of Vol. 3 which reflect the current wave of worldwide interest in the use of hydrogen for energy production in addition to its established traditional usage as an industrial chemical and synthetic ingredient. As in previous hydrogen energy conferences, the engineering problems associated with the use of hydrogen as an IC engine fuel, in partial or total substitution of petroleum fuels in both spark-ignited and compression-ignited automobile engines, seem to have attracted considerable attention. Particularly useful are the papers describing the results of successful field trials with hydrogen combined with gasoline or diesel oil, which demonstrate the multiple benefits of improved engine performance with substantial fuel economy and reduced pollutant emission. An entirely different concept for automobile propulsion is presented in a paper by Dino Dini of Italy. It is a reciprocating three cylinder, double-acting, hot gas engine with high pressure nitrogen as the working fluid, superheated externally by hydrogen air combustion. The paper gives complete details of the thermodynamics and operating mechanism of this novel engine. A couple of papers relate to the use of hydrogen as a heating fuel: (a) for a variety of domestic applications using catalytic heaters and stoves, and (b) for generating bacteria- and oxygen-free steam for clinical sterilization and special chemical applications. In the important area of fuel cells, there are seven papers dealing with their practical development for a variety of specialized applications such as energy storage and combination with photovoltaic cells, automotive power source and utility power generation. 283
284
B O O K REVIEW
Finally, there are five papers on the chemical and industrial applications of hydrogen such as the production of synthetic hydrocarbons (Synfuels) from coal and metallurgical ore reduction. In conclusion, it can be said that most of the 137 papers in these volumes relate in some way or the other to a global transition to hydrogen economy, which seems destined to come about by mid-21st century. Hydrogen Energy Progress--VIII will surely be of interest to all sections of people seriously
concerned in finding a lasting solution to the global energy problems and environmental concerns.
Refrigerationand Air-conditioning Laboratory Department of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras 600 036, India
M . V . C . SASTRI
0366 3199/91 $3.00 + 0.00 Pergamon Press plc. International Association for Hydrogen Energy.
BOOK REVIEW
(Receh~ed J~r publication 28 Not~ember 19901
Hydrogen Energy Progress--VIII (Proceedings of the 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Honolulu and Waikoloa, Hawaii, U.S.A., 22--27 July 1990). Edited by T. N. Veziro~lu and P . K . Takahashi. Pergamon Press. 1990.3 Volumes, 1594 text pages, Price US$365. This three-volume series contains 137 out of a total of 256 papers that were presented at the 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, held in Hawaii, U.S.A., July 1990. These are appropriately grouped subject-wise into four sections (called chapters), titled: Transitions to Hydrogen Energy, Production, Storage and Distribution, and Utilization of Hydrogen, respectively. From the titles and subject coverage of the papers, it is apparent that the main thrust of the Conference was on the possible role of hydrogen in the development and promotion of solar-derived renewable energy sources, The proceedings are appropriately prefaced by an eloquent presentation by Professor Winter of DLR, Stuttgart, on the topic, "Hydrogen and Solar Energy", in which the author has portrayed the elements of a 21st century global energy scenario based almost wholly on solar and renewable energy sources with hydrogen and electricity as the twin vectors. This is backed up by another article by Dr Nitsch of the same organization on the broad features, merits and techno-economic implications of a hydrogen energy distribution system, Some of the other articles worth mentioning in this group (Vol. I, Chapters A-I and A-2) are: a status review EuroQuebec project which envisages a large scale export of surplus hydro-electricity from Quebec (Canada) to Europe via electrolytic conversion to hydrogen, a similar proposal for export of solar power from the Libyan desert to Central Europe, overviews of on-going hydrogen energy research and development (HE R&D) programs of U.S.A. and Switzerland, economic and societal aspects of transition to hydrogen energy economy and institutional back-up strategies achieving quicker and wider spread of hydrogen usage in the energy sector. There are 53 articles on hydrogen production, distributed in six chapters of Vols 1 and 2. These relate to practically all known techniques of water-splitting, namely, high temperature thermolysis and thermochemical cycles, water- and watervapour electrolysis in aqueous and solid oxide electrolytes, photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical and photobiological processes. Worth special mention are the research papers and expert state-of-the-art reviews on photoelectrochemical processes, septum solar cells, thermochemical hydrogen production, thermodynamic exergy analysis of electrolytic and thermochemical processes, and high temperature hydrogen separation membranes, On the subject of hydrogen storage and distribution, there are 38 papers in four chapters of Vols 2 and 3. These relate to the dual modes of storage as liquefied hydrogen (LH2) and metal
hydrides (MH), except for a stray couple of papers on storage by absorption in actuated carbon. The papers of LH2 storage relate mainly to container improvements to minimize boil-off losses, LH2 handling and transport, and direct injection to automobile engines. There is an interesting paper on a practical laboratory plant for small scale liquefaction of hydrogen. The papers on metal hydrides include some excellent contributions from China (P.R.C.) which, in the past few years, has made rapid strides in this area of materials research. The Chinese contributions relate mainly to new zirconium- and titanium-based alloy formulations which seem to hold out great promise for hydrogen storage applications. For the readers' benefit, Professor Deyou Bao has given an excellent overview of his country's R & D activity in hydrogen and hydrides technology. Also for special mention are two papers from India: one, reporting the synthesis and characterization of new lightweight La Mg intermetallics with high hydrogen storage capacity and other desirable features, and the other, on the use of metal hydrides for thermochemical heat pump applications. The section on hydrogen-utilization consists of 29 papers in four chapters of Vol. 3 which reflect the current wave of worldwide interest in the use of hydrogen for energy production in addition to its established traditional usage as an industrial chemical and synthetic ingredient. As in previous hydrogen energy conferences, the engineering problems associated with the use of hydrogen as an IC engine fuel, in partial or total substitution of petroleum fuels in both spark-ignited and compression-ignited automobile engines, seem to have attracted considerable attention. Particularly useful are the papers describing the results of successful field trials with hydrogen combined with gasoline or diesel oil, which demonstrate the multiple benefits of improved engine performance with substantial fuel economy and reduced pollutant emission. An entirely different concept for automobile propulsion is presented in a paper by Dino Dini of Italy. It is a reciprocating three cylinder, double-acting, hot gas engine with high pressure nitrogen as the working fluid, superheated externally by hydrogen air combustion. The paper gives complete details of the thermodynamics and operating mechanism of this novel engine. A couple of papers relate to the use of hydrogen as a heating fuel: (a) for a variety of domestic applications using catalytic heaters and stoves, and (b) for generating bacteria- and oxygen-free steam for clinical sterilization and special chemical applications. In the important area of fuel cells, there are seven papers dealing with their practical development for a variety of specialized applications such as energy storage and combination with photovoltaic cells, automotive power source and utility power generation. 283
284
B O O K REVIEW
Finally, there are five papers on the chemical and industrial applications of hydrogen such as the production of synthetic hydrocarbons (Synfuels) from coal and metallurgical ore reduction. In conclusion, it can be said that most of the 137 papers in these volumes relate in some way or the other to a global transition to hydrogen economy, which seems destined to come about by mid-21st century. Hydrogen Energy Progress--VIII will surely be of interest to all sections of people seriously
concerned in finding a lasting solution to the global energy problems and environmental concerns.
Refrigerationand Air-conditioning Laboratory Department of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Madras 600 036, India
M . V . C . SASTRI