A comparison of hydrogen with alternate energy forms from coal and nuclear energy

✍ Scribed by Kenneth E. Cox

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1976
• Weight: 529 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0013-7480
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-7480(76)90015-2

✦ Synopsis

Alternate energy forms that can be produced from coal and nuclear energy have been analyzed on effmiency, economic and end-use grounds. These forms include hydrogen, methane, electricity, and EVA-ADAM, a "chemical heat-pipe" approach to energy transmission.

The EVA-ADAM system for nuclear heat appears to be economically competitive with the other energy carriers except over very large distances. The cost of hydrogen derived from coal is approximately equal to that of methane derived from the same source when compared on an equal BTU basis. Thermochemically derived hydrogen from nuclear energy shows a break-even range with hydrogen derived from coal at coal costs of from $33-80/ton depending on the cost of nuclear heat. Electricity and electrolytically derived hydrogen are the most expensive energy carriers and electricity's use should be limited to applications involving work rather than heat.

Continued work in thermochemical hydrogen production schemes should be supported as an energy option for the future.