Helmut Buchner

The hydrogen/hydride energy concept

Abstract With technology at its present stage, hydrogen is a very convenient secondary energy source (fuel, propellant) at the end of the oil era, as hydrogen (given the necessary primary energy, e.g. coal, nuclear energy for hydrogen production) is available in water in practically inexhaustible quantities and its distribution in the form of pure hydrogen or part-hydrogen gas mixtures (town gas) presents no fundamental technical problems. Hydrogen technology brought about as a result of the dwindling reserves of mineral oil offers particularly favourable advantages in that hydrogen, like oil, can be applied universally as an energy source not only for domestic and industrial use, but also for motor vehicles . The storage of hydrogen for mobile (vehicle) and stationary (domestic) applications is best undertaken by the aid of suitable metal hydrides. Hydride research at Daimler-Benz not only produced the worlds first combination hydride vehicles, it also led to the discovery and further development of a series of possible applications for hydrides. This work shows, that hydrogen out of metal hydrides is not only environmentally acceptable and offers independence of petroleum supplies, metal hydrides also permit optimum primary energy utilization by means of waste heat recovery from all combustion processes, heating and cooling of houses and cars without consuming primary energy and a reduction in energy consumption during the production of inexpensive D 2 O for natural uranium reactors.

The daimler-benz hydride vehicle project

Abstract Thirty passenger cars with hydrogen and hydrogen/gasoline hybrid operation and TiFe hydride tanks will be tested in Berlin. A central refueling station will deliver pure hydrogen derived out of the town gas network. High and low temperature hydride tanks will be tested in some vans and passenger cars in Stuttgart. An individual refueling station with integrated heat recovery will demonstrate the possibility of using existing energy infrastructures (electricity, gas) for hydrogen production.

Hydrogen use—transportation fuel

Abstract The possibilities and limits of hydrogen for ground transportation are discussed. The state of development of the hydrogen infrastructure, of hydrogen storage means and of hydrogen drive systems including fuel cells are shown. The technical problems and their solutions in connection with metal hydride storage tanks in vehicles and the Daimler-Benz hydride vehicle program are described.

Development of hydrides for motor vehicles

Abstract The storage of hydrogen in metal hydrides is suitable for motor vehicles as well as for stationary applications. Since the metal hydrides are used both for fuel and for heat storage some interesting technical developments are possible. The development and applications of low and high temperature hydrides are reported and the solutions of some technical problems (e.g. improvement of heat transfer and hydride manufacture) are presented.

Perspectives for metal hydride technology

Abstract Hydrogen storage in the form of metal hydrides offers a series of interesting technical applications. The dual function of heat and fuel storage in hydrides is described for application in cars as well as for stationary use. It is shown that hydrides can act as electrochemically reversible storage electrodes in alkaline accumulators and as a means for isotope separation. Heat storage and waste heat recovery with the aid of hydrides and domestic possibilities for hydrogen production are discussed.

The question of the hydrogen infrastructure for motor vehicles

Abstract The hydrogen supply for motor vehicles is not necessarily connected with the development of its own infrastructure in the form of hydrogen pipeline networks. It can be shown that the existing infrastructures for electricity, gas and water for centralized and decentralized generation of hydrogen can be utilized practically in terms of energy. The technical possibilities for decentralized generation of hydrogen and its use as an auxiliary fuel to extend the gasoline supplies are described and discussed.