Discover the solid science and cutting-edge technologies behind hydrogen energy and fuel cells, and learn how we will use this energy in our homes and buildings, vehicles and public transportation, for electricity in remote areas and for backup power, and much more.
On this learning safari, the wise wizard Zed of the Wasserstoff Farm leads readers through chapters that include:
- an overview of basic chemistry and energy transformation
- a look at global warming and the annual U.S. energy consumption
- electrolysis and other ways of extracting hydrogen from water
- extracting hydrogen from coal, natural gas and biomass
- ethanol and methanol production; nuclear energy and hydrogen production
- using wind and solar energy for hydrogen production
- hydrogen storage; internal combustion engines fueled by hydrogen
- fuel cells for vehicles and buildings.
Reviews"This book is amazing. It has helped me explain the complex science of hydrogen to Wall Street investors." - Brion D. Tanous, Managing Director of Next Generation Energy, Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.
"....will appeal to readers of any age who have not lost their imagination or spirit of adventure. I also recommend it to the journalists, economists and political leaders of our age in hopes that they will get the science correct when they speak of the most serious technical problem of our time." - Dr. Richard Treptow, retired Chemistry professor, Chicago State University
"Whether it's read for content, for pleasure, or as a source of great read-aloud anecdotes, this book provides the most current information on hydrogen and other energy technologies in an enjoyable way." - Richard Smith for National Science Teachers Association
Table of ContentsPART ONE: Laying The Foundation1 - INTRODUCTION: Meet the Wizard at the Wasserstoff Farm
2 - CREATIONOFATOMICELEMENTS: The Birth of Hydrogen: On a Fine Day, 13.7 Billion Years Ago…
3 - FISSION &FUSION: Unearthly Reactions: Atoms vs. Atomics
4 - CHEMICAL BONDING: The Numbers Game
5 - GLOBALWARMING: The Dangers of Riding Your Carbon Cycle Through a Greenhouse
6 - Deeper into the Wasserstoff Farm
7 - ANNUALU.S. ENERGYCONSUMPTION: Sizing Up the Beast (with apologies to Rhode Island)
PART TWO: Where In The World Is The Hydrogen?8 - ELECTROLYSIS: Splitting Water -- It’s a Matter of Perspective
9 - OTHER WAYS TO EXTRACT HYDROGEN FROM WATER: How to Perform an Electrolyzer Bypass
10 - EXTRACTING HYDROGEN FROM COAL, NATURAL GAS & BIOMASS: (Re)Forming a Steamy Relationship with Hydrocarbons
11 - ETHANOL & METHANOL PRODUCTION: The Alcohol Sisters: A Hot New Fling for Hydrogen?
12 - NUCLEAR ENERGY & HYDROGEN PRODUCTION: To Nuke or Not to Nuke: Is That a Question?
13 - WIND ENERGY & HYDROGEN PRODUCTION: The Wind as Fuel: Watts Possible?
14 - SOLAR ENERGY & HYDROGEN PRODUCTION: Sunlight to Watts: A Towerful Idea
PART THREE: Putting Hydrogen To Work15 - HYDROGEN STORAGE: Stuffing Wasserstoff: Is There an Ideal Way to Store a Non-Ideal Gas?
- Bulk Storage andTransportation
- Is Hydrogen Safe?
16 - HYDROGEN-FUELED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES: The Infernal Combustion Engine: Can the ol’ Hoss Run on New-Fangled Feed?
17 - FUEL CELLS: Going Where No Engine Has Gone Before
- Portable Fuel Cells
- Hydrogen Use in our Homes
18 - Night Vision: A Peek Into Tomorrow
