Outlook of Production and Utilization of Hydrogen

Abstract

The following technological processes for hydrogen manufacture are reviewed and compared: steam reforming of methane and light oil fractions, partial oxidation of heavy oil fractions, coal gasification by reaction with oxygen and steam, isolation of hydrogen from refinery gases and electrolysis of water. Trends and outlook of hydrogen consumption are analysed and growing demands for hydrogen production in coming years are predicted. In the second part technical problems associated with utilisation of hydrogen as motor fuel, both in internal combustion engines and fuel cells, are discussed.