Dynamic simulation and lifecycle assessment of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles considering various hydrogen production methods

In this research study, a real model of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is simulated using Simcenter Amesim software. The software used for vehicle simulation enabled dynamic simulation, resulting in more precise simulation. Furthermore, considering that fuel cell degradation is one of the significant challenges confronting fuel cell vehicle manufacturers, we examined the impact of fuel cell degradation on the performance of hydrogen vehicles. According to the findings, a hydrogen vehicle with a degraded fuel cell consumes 14.3% more fuel than a fresh fuel cell hydrogen vehicle. A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) is also performed for the designed hydrogen vehicle. The results of the hydrogen vehicle life cycle assessment are compared with a gasoline vehicle to fully understand the effect of hydrogen vehicles in reducing air emissions. The methods considered for hydrogen production included natural gas reforming, electrolysis, and thermochemical water splitting method. Furthermore, because the source of electricity used for electrolysis has a significant impact on the life cycle emission of a hydrogen vehicle, three different power sources were considered in this assessment. Finally, while a hydrogen vehicle with a degraded fuel cell emits lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) than a gasoline vehicle, the emitted CO₂ from this vehicle using hydrogen from electrolysis is approximately 25% higher than that of a new hydrogen vehicle.     

The analysis on energy and environmental impacts of microalgae-based fuel methanol in China

The whole life of methanol fuel, produced by microalgae biomass which is a kind of renewable energy, is evaluated by using a method of life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA has been used to identify and quantify the environment emissions and energy efficiency of the system throughout the whole life cycle, including microalgae cultivation, methanol conversion, transport, and end-use. Energy efficiency, defined as the ratio of the energy of methanol produced to the total required energy, is 1.24, the results indicate that it is plausible as an energy producing process. The environmental impact loading of microalgae-based fuel methanol is 0.187mPET₂₀₀₀ in contrast to 0.828mPET₂₀₀₀ for gasoline. The effect of photochemical ozone formation is the highest of all the calculated categorization impacts of the two fuels. Utilization of microalgae an raw material of producing methanol fuel is beneficial to both production of renewable fuels and improvement of the ecological environment. This Fuel methanol is friendly to the environment, which should take an important role in automobile industry development and gasoline fuel substitute.     

Renewable hydrogen to recycle CO2 to methanol

The balance of the natural carbon cycle disrupted by the large consumption of fossil fuels, in particular coal producing electricity, may in principle be restored by using renewable hydrogen. This paper considers the opportunity to recycle the CO₂ produced burning fossil fuels with oxy-fuel combustion using renewable hydrogen as the second feed-stock. The product, methanol, is a transportation fuel having significant advantages over not only over hydrogen, but also gasoline, permitting much better fuel conversion efficiencies than gasoline thanks to the larger heat of vaporisation and the largest resistance to knock that make this fuel the best option for small, high power density, turbocharged, directly injected stoichiometric engines.     

Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen and other selected fuels

A streamlined life cycle assessment (LCA) is reported of a nuclear-based copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) hydrogen production cycle, including estimates of fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Calculations revealed that the process requires 474 kJ of fossil fuel energy per MJ of hydrogen, which is less than for other hydrogen production processes. Moreover, GHG emissions are estimated to be 27 gCO₂e per MJ of hydrogen, which is only slightly higher than the corresponding value for wind-based hydrogen production. A sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the performance of the system could be further improved at higher yields of hydrogen. Although the system significantly outperformed fossil-based gasoline and hydrogen production pathways, the integrated nuclear and thermochemical cycle still requires significant research and development before commercialization is possible.     

Realistic simulation of fuel economy and life cycle metrics for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

The present work contributes an engineered life cycle assessment (LCA) of hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicles based on a real‐world driving cycle for semi‐urban driving conditions. A new customized LCA tool is developed for the comparison of conventional gasoline and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which utilizes a dynamic vehicle simulation approach to calculate realistic, fundamental science based fuel economy data from actual drive cycles, vehicle specifications, road grade, engine performance, fuel cell degradation effects, and regenerative braking. The total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and life cycle cost of the vehicles are compared for the case of hydrogen production by electrolysis in British Columbia, Canada. A 72% reduction in total GHG emission is obtained for switching from gasoline vehicles to FCVs. While fuel cell performance degradation causes 7% and 3% increases in lifetime fuel consumption and GHG emission, respectively, regenerative braking improves the fuel economy by 23% and reduces the total GHG emission by 10%. The cost assessment results indicate that the current FCV technology is approximately $2,100 more costly than the equivalent gasoline vehicle based on the total lifetime cost including purchase and fuel cost. However, prospective enhancements in fuel cell durability could potentially reduce the FCV lifetime cost below that of gasoline vehicles. Overall, the present results indicate that fuel cell vehicles are becoming both technologically and economically viable compared with incumbent vehicles, and provide a realistic option for deep reductions in emissions from transportation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

燃料电池汽车氢能系统的环境、经济和能源评价

为了推动氢能系统评价工作的深入进行并为我国在近期发展燃料电池汽车氢能系统(包括燃料电池汽车及其氢源)提供有价值的参考，根据现有的生产、储存和输运氢的技术，设计了11种可行方案，运用生命周期评价方法对这些方案的环境性、经济性和能源利用情况进行了评价，得到了每种方案的分类环境效应指数、氢气总成本和总能量利用效率。结果表明，综合指标最优的燃料电池汽车氢能系统方案是：天然气集中制氢厂制氢，然后用汽车将装有氢气的高压钢瓶输运到加氢站，加注给以氢气为燃料的燃料电池汽车。     

A preliminary life cycle assessment of PEM fuel cell powered automobiles

This paper provides a preliminary life cycle assessment (LCA) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell powered automobile. Life cycle of PEM fuel cell automobile not only includes operation of the vehicle on the road but also include production and distribution of both the vehicle and the fuel (e.g. hydrogen) during the vehicle’s entire lifetime. Assessment is based on the published data available in the literature. The two characteristics of the life cycle, which were assessed, are energy consumption and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions considered in the present assessment are CO₂ and CH₄. In addition, conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) automobile is also assessed based on similar characteristics for comparison with PEM fuel cell automobile. It is found that the energy utilized to generate the hydrogen during fuel cycle for the PEM automobile is about 3.5 times higher than the energy utilized to generate the gasoline during its fuel cycle. However, the overall life cycle energy consumption of PEM fuel cell automobile is about 2.3 times less than that of ICE automobile. Similarly, the GHGs emissions of PEMFC automobile are about 8.5 times higher than ICE automobile during the fuel cycle, but the overall life cycle GHGs emissions are about 2.6 times lower than ICE automobile.     

Development of a hydrogen-fuelled farm tractor

A medium displacement (40 h.p. class), gasoline-powered farm tractor has been converted to hydrogen fuel to demonstrate the use of hydrogen energy in agricultural vehicles.The hydrogen fuel system uses a modified propane gas carburettor which has been added to the existing gasoline system to provide dual mode operation. Results from tests using a dynanometer measuring power and fuel efficiency indicate that peak power is reduced by approximately 30% when hydrogen performance is compared with gasoline.Hydrogen is stored on board the tractor using a metal hydride bed. Choice of this mode of gas storage and the design of the hydride bed is appropriate to small-scale farming applications. Measurement of the bed conditions during charging and for a typical running cycle indicate the system as designed can meet farm tractor requirements.     

Conversion of fossil and biomass fuels to electric power and transportation fuels by high efficiency integrated plasma fuel cell (IPFC) energy cycle

The IPFC is a high efficiency energy cycle, which converts fossil and biomass fuel to electricity and co-product hydrogen and liquid transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel). The cycle consists of two basic units, a hydrogen plasma black reactor (HPBR) which converts the carbonaceous fuel feedstock to elemental carbon and hydrogen and CO gas. The carbon is used as fuel in a direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC), which generates electricity, a small part of which is used to power the plasma reactor. The gases are cleaned and water gas shifted for either hydrogen or syngas formation. The hydrogen is separated for production or the syngas is catalytically converted in a Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) reactor to gasoline and/or diesel fuel. Based on the demonstrated efficiencies of each of the component reactors, the overall IPFC thermal efficiency for electricity and hydrogen or transportation fuel is estimated to vary from 70 to 90% depending on the feedstock and the co-product gas or liquid fuel produced. The CO₂ emissions are proportionately reduced and are in concentrated streams directly ready for sequestration. Preliminary cost estimates indicate that IPFC is highly competitive with respect to conventional integrated combined cycle plants (NGCC and IGCC) for production of electricity and hydrogen and transportation fuels.     

Life cycle assessment of hydrogen fuel cell and gasoline vehicles

A life cycle assessment of hydrogen and gasoline vehicles, including fuel production and utilization in vehicles powered by fuel cells and internal combustion engines, is conducted to evaluate and compare their efficiencies and environmental impacts. Fossil fuel and renewable technologies are investigated, and the assessment is divided into various stages.     

考虑可再生性的燃料生命周期净能源成本优化

提出了一个新的考虑燃料可再生性的净能源成本指标.这一指标除了燃料的净能源产出和气态污染物排放外部成本之外,还将生命周期成本和燃料可再生性综合成一个指标,而已往的研究一般仅考虑前两项.以广西木薯-汽油混合燃料考虑可再生性的生命周期净能源成本优化为案例,对木薯乙醇-汽油混合燃料考虑可再生性的生命周期净能源成本指标进行了优化.结果表明：与初始值相比,优化后该指标值降低6.9%.     

氢能的安全性和燃料电池汽车的氢安全问题

为了深化对氢能安全性的研究、推动氢能在我国的规模应用，通过对有关文献的调研和分析，对氢能的安全性和燃料电池汽车的氢安全问题进行了初步探讨：详细讨论了氢的泄漏、脆化、扩散、可燃性和爆炸性等特殊的安全性问题；并以汽油的安全性为参照，对燃料电池汽车的安全性进行了评价，得出了正常运行中，设计良好的燃料电池汽车具有与汽油汽车、天然气汽车及甲烷汽车同等的安全性的结论。     

Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen pathways from fossil sources in China

Emissions of multiple hydrogen production pathways from fossil sources were evaluated and compared with that of fossil fuel production pathways in China by using the life cycle assessment method. The considered hydrogen pathways are gasoline reforming, diesel reforming, natural gas reforming, soybean‐derived biodiesel (s‐biodiesel) reforming, and waste cooking oil‐derived biodiesel reforming. Moreover, emissions and energy consumption of fuel cell vehicles utilizing hydrogen from different fossil sources were presented and compared with those of the electric vehicle, the internal combustion engine vehicle, and the compression ignition engine vehicle. The results indicate both fuel cell vehicles and the electric vehicle have less greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption compared with the traditional vehicle technologies in China. Based on an overall performance comparison of five different fuel cell vehicles and the electric vehicle in China, fuel cell vehicles operating on hydrogen produced from natural gas and waste cooking oil‐derived biodiesel show the best performance, whereas the electric vehicle has the worse performance than all the fuel cell vehicles because of very high share of coal in the electricity mix of China. The emissions of electric vehicle in China will be in the same level with that of natural gas fuel cell vehicle if the share of coal decreases to around 40% and the share of renewable energy increases to around 20% in the electricity mix of China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Process analysis of refuse derived fuel hydrogasification for producing SNG

Toxic emissions from waste thermal treatments are a major issue that in several countries hinders a full waste cycle. This paper addresses the specific topic of a sustainable exploitation of the refuse derived fuel (RDF). Because concerns still arise when using RDF as fuel, a new approach for its exploitation, the RDF hydrogasification for producing synthetic natural gas (SNG), is discussed herein.The process has been simulated with Aspen code. The best operating conditions to maximize methane yield, under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions, have been studied while the composition of the obtained SNG has been verified in order to comply with the requirements of the methane grid. Furthermore, the analysis looked at the effect of the hydrogen excess in promoting the methane yield and the reduction of the dioxins formation.The energy analysis of the process, that has considered the use of commercial alkaline electrolysers for producing hydrogen, has been found to be mainly affected by the electric power consumption and has exhibited values of energy efficiency around 61%.Finally, a preliminary assessment of the economic competitiveness of this process has been done in order to clarify if the benefits from costs avoided for waste disposal could be the breakthrough in making RDF a sustainable competitive fuel.     

Technico-economic study of distributing hydrogen for automotive vehicles

The objective of this study is to estimate the technical and economic feasibilities of hydrogen applied to automotive traction. The problems of mass storage and transportation of hydrogen, capillary distribution, storage aboard vehicles and those concerning hydrogen thermal engines and hydrogen fuel cells are investigated. The different ways of using hydrogen, either compressed or liquefied or combined in hydrides, are taken into account.Energy and economic balance sheets lead to the conclusion that hydrogen internal combustion engines cannot compete with gasoline engines with regard to primary energy consumption and fuel cost. To the contrary, a hydrogen fuel cell, thanks to its high efficiency, provides for appreciable energy saving and leads to a fuel expense of the same order of magnitude as premium gasoline in an urban vehicle.     

Emerging technologies by hydrogen: A review

The majority of energy being used is obtained from fossil fuels, which are not renewable resources and require a longer time to recharge or return to its original capacity. Energy from fossil fuels is cheaper but it faces some challenges compared to renewable energy resources. Thus, one of the most potential candidates to fulfil the energy requirements are renewable resources and the most environmentally friendly fuel is Hydrogen. Hydrogen is a clean and efficient energy carrier and a hydrogen-based economy is now widely regarded as a potential solution for the future of energy security and sustainability. Hydrogen energy became the most significant energy as the current demand gradually starts to increase. It is an important key solution to tackle the global temperature rise. The key important factor of hydrogen production is the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen production technologies are commercially available, while some of these technologies are still under development. Therefore, the global interest in minimising the effects of greenhouse gases as well as other pollutant gases also increases. In order to investigate hydrogen implementation as a fuel or energy carrier, easily obtained broad-spectrum knowledge on a variety of processes is involved as well as their advantages, disadvantages, and potential adjustments in making a process that is fit for future development. Aside from directly using the hydrogen produced from these processes in fuel cells, streams rich with hydrogen can also be utilised in producing ethanol, methanol, gasoline as well as various chemicals of high value. This paper provided a brief summary on the current and developing technologies of hydrogen that are noteworthy.     

Thermodynamic analysis and assessment of an integrated hydrogen fuel cell system for ships

In this thermodynamic investigation, an integrated energy system based on hydrogen fuel is developed and studied energetically and exergetically. The liquefied hydrogen fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based system is then integrated with a steam producing cycle to supply electricity and potable water to ships. The first heat recovery system, after the fuel cells provide thrust for the ship, is by means of a turbine while the second heat recovery system drives the ship's refrigeration cycle. This study includes energy and exergy performance evaluations of SOFC, refrigeration cycle and ship thrust engine systems. Furthermore, the effectiveness of SOFCs and a hydrogen fueled engine in reducing greenhouse gas emissions are assessed parametrically through a case study. The main propulsion, power generation from the solid oxide fuel cells, absorption chiller, and steam bottoming cycle systems together have the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of 41.53% and 37.13%, respectively.     

Hydrogen flow chart in China

In this paper, the life cycle of hydrogen, flowing from production to consumption in China is described. Chinese industry and statistics data are used to calculate the total and segmental hydrogen production and consumption, and the by-product hydrogen are estimated. In 2007, about 12.42 million tons hydrogen was generated on-site, in which, 57.3%, 23.0% and 19.7% were produced by coal, natural gas and oil respectively. Hydrogen is mainly consumed by the following manufacturing processes: ammonia, methanol and oil refining, and the corresponding percentages are 75.8%, 10.5% and 13.7%. There are about 5.3 million tons and 0.42 million tons of by-product hydrogen produced during the carbonization process and the sodium hydroxide producing respectively. The by-product hydrogen is collected and utilized in vehicles to fuel hydrogen fuel cells or internal combustion engine technologies. Therefore, it could replace about 16 million tons of gasoline or fuel 17.7 million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.     

Plug-in hybrid fuel cell vehicles market penetration scenarios

The main objective of this research is to analyze the impact of the market share increase of hydrogen based road vehicles in terms of energy consumption and CO₂, on today's Portuguese light-duty fleet. Actual yearly values of energy consumption and emissions were estimated using COPERT software: 167112 TJ of fossil fuel energy, 12213 kton of CO₂ emission and 141 kton of CO, 20 kton of HC, 46 kton of NO_x and 3 kton of PM. These values represent 20–40% of countries total emissions. Additionally to base fleet, three scenarios of introduction of 10–30% fuel cell vehicles including plug-in hybrids configurations were analysed. Considering the scenarios of increasing hydrogen based vehicles penetration, up to 10% life cycle energy consumption reduction can be obtained if hydrogen from centralized natural gas reforming is considered. Full life cycle CO₂ emissions can also be reduced up to 20% in these scenarios, while local pollutants reach up to 85% reductions. For the purpose of estimating road vehicle technologies energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in a full life cycle perspective, fuel cell, conventional full hybrids and hybrid plug-in technologies were considered with diesel, gasoline, hydrogen and biofuel blends. Energy consumption values were estimated in a real road driving cycle and with ADVISOR software. Materials cradle-to-grave life cycle was estimated using GREET database adapted to Europe electric mix. The main conclusions on CO₂ full life cycle analysis is that light-duty vehicles using fuel cell propulsion technology are highly dependent on hydrogen production pathway. The worst scenario for the current Portuguese and European electric mix is hydrogen produced from on-site electrolysis (in the refuelling stations). In this case full life cycle CO₂ is 270 g/km against 190 g/km for conventional Diesel vehicle, for a typical 150,000 km useful life.     

A review of hydrogen usage in internal combustion engines (gasoline-Lpg-diesel) from combustion performance aspect

Demand for fossil fuels is increasing day by day with the increase in industrialization and energy demand in the world. For this reason, many countries are looking for alternative energy sources against this increasing energy demand. Hydrogen is an alternative fuel with high efficiency and superior properties. The development of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the transport sector is expected to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution from exhaust emissions. In this study, the use of hydrogen as a fuel in vehicles and the current experimental studies in the literature are examined and the results of using hydrogen as an additional fuel are investigated. The effects of hydrogen usage on engine performance and exhaust emissions as an additional fuel to internal combustion gasoline, diesel and LPG engines are explained. Depending on the amount of hydrogen added to the fuel system, the engine power and torque are increased at most on petrol engines, while they are decreased on LPG and diesel engines. In terms of chemical products, the emissions of harmful exhaust gases in gasoline and LPG engines are reduced, while some diesel engines increase nitrogen oxide levels. In addition, it is understood that there will be a positive effect on the environment, due to hydrogen usage in all engine types.