Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The Shuttle's main liquid hydrogen-oxygen tank is the largest of the
three external tanks. The two smaller boosters use a solid aluminum based
fuel.
NASA has also funded research by several aerospace firms, includ-
ing Lockheed and Boeing, to determine if liquid hydrogen could be prac-
tical for commercial aircraft and what modifications would be needed for
airports and fueling systems.
NASA has used large quantities of gaseous and liquid hydrogen for
many years, which required developing the necessary pipelines, storage
tanks, barges and transport vehicles. As a result of this experience, NASA
has concluded that hydrogen can be as safe or in some ways safer, than
gasoline or conventional aviation fuels.
NASA originally wanted to develop a reusable manned liquid hy-
drogen-fueled launch vehicle for the space shuttle program, but Congress
would not vote for the additional funds that would be needed. Less expen-
sive solid rocket boosters were used, which turned into a tragedy when
one of the seals of the solid rocket boosters failed during a cold weather
launch. This caused the explosion of the Challenger shuttle in 1986 and the
loss of its entire crew, including the first teacher on a spaceflight.
BIOMASS HYDROGEN
Biomass could be a source of hydrogen. The biomass includes any
material that is part of the agricultural growing cycle. Agricultural food,
wood and waste products can be used as well as trees and grasses grown
as energy crops.
Biomass may be a low cost renewable source of hydrogen in the near
future. It could be a major renewable source of hydrogen. Biomass can be
gasified and converted into hydrogen and electric power. The process is
similar to coal gasification.
Biomass gasification processes are in the demonstration phase.
Biomass can also be gasified together with coal. Royal Dutch/Shell has
commercially demonstrated a 25/75 biomass/coal gasifier.
The CO 2 could be extracted from biomass gasification since it is simi-
lar to coal gasification. It would mean extracting CO 2 from the air while
growing and then injecting that CO 2 into underground reservoirs through
the gasification and sequestration process.
Biomass may not be feasible for small scale on site hydrogen pro-
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