The science behind a clean energy breakthrough from South Korea is a veritable tour of the periodic table, using a collection of elements and compounds to produce hydrogen without fossil fuels. The results could be transformative for the transportation sector and beyond.
Experts at the Korea Energy Research Institute provide this product by reducing ammonia to its core elements hydrogen and nitrogen.
According to TechXplore, this innovation uses temperatures of approximately 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit to break down ammonia. To eliminate the need for fossil fuels, the researchers are using the platinum metal ruthenium as a “catalyst” in a process called pressure swing adsorption. It is a complex combination of elements, compounds, and technologies that can generate high temperatures and ultimately hydrogen fuel.
TechXplore published a diagram highlighting the differences between traditional methods and KIER's process. Simply put, the common technology injects natural gas to generate heat and pollute the air. The Korean method does not use fossil fuels, as experts can generate high temperatures using the mixture of elements used in this technology.
According to the diagram, the excess gas produced during operation (a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen) is returned to production to maintain the combustion necessary to reduce ammonia.
The reactor is housed within a square metal frame filled with pipes, hoses, and gauges, and contains two cylinders about the size of hot water tanks.
But what's missing may be the biggest news. According to a report in TechXplore, eliminating fossil fuels in the process produces hydrogen fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.
Jung Unho, KIER's principal investigator, said in the article that the discovery was important.
And his assessment is backed up by impressive results: “High purity hydrogen of over 99.97%,'' according to the summary.
TechXplore also noted that the product could potentially power fuel cells for hydrogen electric vehicles. Additionally, because some of the ammonia is made from hydrogen, experts believe that ammonia could become a cost-effective way to transport and store fuel elements. According to the research team, KIER's clean process can be used to reduce hydrogen from ammonia if needed.
Hydrogen is already powering trains, planes, vehicles and ships as part of innovations that are transforming the way we travel. However, the Department of Energy says that much of the hydrogen fuel currently in use is often made from natural gas, so it's not necessarily pollution-free.
Other experts are also developing cleaner ways to use sunlight to create energy sources. For example, scientists at the University of Cambridge have invented an artificial leaf to produce fresh water and hydrogen. If proven scalable, this innovation could reduce the amount of global warming air pollution that causes severe weather and other diseases.
A TechXplore article mentions KIER's work on hydrogen fuel cells to provide clean power to buildings, as one of the ways this technology is enabling a greener energy future.
“If we expand the scale, we can have a big impact on the clean hydrogen power generation field,” Uno said.
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