Global WarmingGlobal Warming

ProjectProject lead the way lead the way OhioOhio Hocking CollegeHocking College

Fuel Cell Training SeminarFuel Cell Training SeminarJuly 23 – 27, 2007July 23 – 27, 2007

Atmospheric Energy FactorsAtmospheric Energy Factors

Earth is in a steady state, the energy stored in the Earth is in a steady state, the energy stored in the atmosphere and ocean does not change rapidly over time.atmosphere and ocean does not change rapidly over time.

Energy equal to the absorbed solar radiation must be Energy equal to the absorbed solar radiation must be radiated back to space. radiated back to space.

Earth radiates energy into space in the Earth radiates energy into space in the infrared infrared wavelengthswavelengths with an intensity that increases with with an intensity that increases with increasing temperature. increasing temperature.

Therefore, one can think of the Earth's temperature as Therefore, one can think of the Earth's temperature as being determined by the infrared flux needed to balance being determined by the infrared flux needed to balance the absorbed solar flux. the absorbed solar flux.

Layers in the atmosphereLayers in the atmosphere

Troposphere: from 0 – 11 Troposphere: from 0 – 11 miles high.miles high. Contains most Contains most of the air. A thin layer of the air. A thin layer where our weather occurs. where our weather occurs. Ozone here is a pollutant. Ozone here is a pollutant.

Stratosphere: from 11 – 30 Stratosphere: from 11 – 30 miles highmiles high. .

Not as dense as the Not as dense as the troposphere, and contains troposphere, and contains much more ozone and less much more ozone and less water vapor. water vapor. NASA shuttle photo of a

sunset over South America

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

The radiation from the sun is a The radiation from the sun is a different wavelength from the different wavelength from the radiation that is emitted from the radiation that is emitted from the earth’s surface. It easily passes earth’s surface. It easily passes through the earth’s atmospherethrough the earth’s atmosphere

The radiation emitted from the The radiation emitted from the surface is a different wavelength surface is a different wavelength and ‘Greenhouse gases’ absorb and ‘Greenhouse gases’ absorb some it and thus, reducing the some it and thus, reducing the flow of the sun’s heat back into flow of the sun’s heat back into space.space.

Diagram from Diagram from www.eecs.umich.edu/mathscience/funexperimewww.eecs.umich.edu/mathscience/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/images/nts/agesubject/lessons/images/diagrampage.htmldiagrampage.html

Global Warming DefinitionsGlobal Warming Definitions The amplified warming of the earth’s troposphere as a The amplified warming of the earth’s troposphere as a

result of increases in the concentrations of one or more result of increases in the concentrations of one or more greenhouse gases.greenhouse gases.

Global warming is the gradual increase in global Global warming is the gradual increase in global temperatures caused by the emission of gases that trap temperatures caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun's heat in the Earth's atmosphere. the sun's heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

An overall increase in world temperatures which may be An overall increase in world temperatures which may be caused by additional heat being trapped by greenhouse caused by additional heat being trapped by greenhouse gases. gases.

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases (GHG) are gaseous components of (GHG) are gaseous components of

the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

The major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, The major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, which causes about 36-70% of the greenhouse effect on which causes about 36-70% of the greenhouse effect on Earth carbon dioxide, which causes between 9-26%; Earth carbon dioxide, which causes between 9-26%; methane which causes 4 to 9% and ozone, which methane which causes 4 to 9% and ozone, which causes between 3-7%causes between 3-7%

Minor greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to: Minor greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to: methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and chlorofluorocarbonschlorofluorocarbons

Nitrogen and oxygen are not greenhouse gases, Nitrogen and oxygen are not greenhouse gases, because they do not absorb infrared radiationbecause they do not absorb infrared radiation

Evidence for global warming from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001 report):

The 20th century was the hottest century in the past 1,000 years.

The average global temperature near the earth’s surface has risen 0.6 degrees C, mostly since 1980.The 16 warmest years on record have occurred since 1980,and the 10 warmest years since 1990.

During the last century the world’s average sea level rose4-8 inches because of runoff of water from melting land-based ice, and also because ocean water expands when its temperature increases.

Global emissions of CO2 now amount to about 24 billion tons per year, released from fossil fuel combustion

Since 1979 the size of the summer polar ice cap has shrunk more than 20%. Its thickness has decreased more than 40%.

Determining CODetermining CO22 Levels Levels

Glaciers provide important information about the composition of the atmosphere through time.

Gas bubbles (little pieces of ancient atmosphere) are trapped in glaciers.

Bubbles can be analyzed for percentages of gases.

Scientists have found that changes in tropospheric carbon dioxide correlate well with estimated variations in the average global temperature.

COCO2 2 Levels from Ice CoresLevels from Ice Cores

After being steady at 280 ppm for 600 years After being steady at 280 ppm for 600 years carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased to 340 ppm in the last 250 years.increased to 340 ppm in the last 250 years.

Data source: Data source: elmhcx9.elmhurst.edu/.../issues/issue197.htmlelmhcx9.elmhurst.edu/.../issues/issue197.html

Consequences of Global WarmingConsequences of Global Warming

More frequent heat waves, droughts, fires, More frequent heat waves, droughts, fires, costal flooding and storms.costal flooding and storms.

Some infectious diseases, such as malaria, Some infectious diseases, such as malaria, will spread to new regionswill spread to new regions

High concentrations of ground-level ozone High concentrations of ground-level ozone will exacerbate heart and respiratory will exacerbate heart and respiratory ailmentsailments

By 2080 rising sea levels will flood the By 2080 rising sea levels will flood the homes and property of millions of peoplehomes and property of millions of people

Response to Global WarmingResponse to Global Warming

Adaptation - Living organisms will learning Adaptation - Living organisms will learning how to survive and prosper in a warmer how to survive and prosper in a warmer world.world.

Mitigation – Limit the extent of future Mitigation – Limit the extent of future warming by reducing the net release of warming by reducing the net release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.– Above responses from Aug 2007 article in Above responses from Aug 2007 article in

Scientific American Scientific American

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol

– The The Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeConvention on Climate Change is an international treaty on is an international treaty on climate change. climate change.

– Objective - the assigning mandatory emission limitations Objective - the assigning mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the signatory nationssignatory nations

– Countries which ratify this protocol commit to reduce Countries which ratify this protocol commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or of these gases.maintain or of these gases.

Hydrocarbon FuelsHydrocarbon Fuels

Throughout the history of humankind, many different fuels Throughout the history of humankind, many different fuels have been burned to provide energy:have been burned to provide energy:– Wood (used for more than a million years)Wood (used for more than a million years)– PeatPeat

– Coal (Coal (a combustible organic rock composed a combustible organic rock composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. ))

– Oil Oil – Natural gasNatural gas

All of these fuels All of these fuels contain hydrogen and contain hydrogen and carbon. During carbon. During combustion, the combustion, the carbon and hydrogen carbon and hydrogen atoms react with atoms react with atmospheric oxygen to atmospheric oxygen to produce COproduce CO22 and H and H22O. O.

(You can not see the (You can not see the COCO22))

Burning HydrocarbonsBurning Hydrocarbons

If perfect combustion is obtained the products of If perfect combustion is obtained the products of burning a hydrocarbon are COburning a hydrocarbon are CO22 + H + H22OO

Gasoline + OxygenGasoline + Oxygen CO CO22 + H + H22OO

2C2C88HH1818 + 25O + 25O2 2 16CO16CO22 + 18H + 18H22OO

Methane + Oxygen Methane + Oxygen CO CO22 + H + H22OO

2CH2CH44 + 4O + 4O2 2 2CO2CO22 + 4H + 4H22OO

Problem with CoalProblem with Coal

COCO22 From Vehicles From Vehicles

The US used The US used 9.15 9.15 million barrelsmillion barrels of of gasoline per day in gasoline per day in 20052005

The US vehicle fleet The US vehicle fleet adds adds 1.3 billion tons of 1.3 billion tons of COCO22 into the air every into the air every

yearyear

Alternative Energy - PoliticsAlternative Energy - Politics

January’s State of the Union Address, President January’s State of the Union Address, President Bush proposed a “Twenty in Ten” plan to reduce Bush proposed a “Twenty in Ten” plan to reduce gasoline usage in the USgasoline usage in the US

The goal to reduce gasoline usage by The goal to reduce gasoline usage by 20% in the 20% in the next 10 yearsnext 10 years

There will be mandatory standards to raise There will be mandatory standards to raise production of renewable fuels to production of renewable fuels to 35 billion gallons 35 billion gallons per year by 2017per year by 2017

Renewable FuelsRenewable Fuels

Renewable Fuels areRenewable Fuels are derived from derived from resources that are regenerative or cannot be resources that are regenerative or cannot be practically depleted. practically depleted. – BiodieselBiodiesel– EthanolEthanol– Wind Power / Solar PowerWind Power / Solar Power– Water PowerWater Power– Geothermal PowerGeothermal Power

Decarburization:

A term scientists use to refer to the changing ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms with each succeeding energy source.

Fuel wood: 10 carbon atoms to 1 hydrogen atom

Coal: 1 or 2 carbon atoms to 1 hydrogen atom

Oil: 1 carbon atom to every 2 hydrogen atoms

Natural gas: One carbon atom to 4 hydrogen atoms

So…..

Each successive energy source, when burnt, emits less CO2 than its predecessor. Pure hydrogen fuel would be best of all.

Alternative Energy SourcesAlternative Energy Sources(that do not emit carbon dioxide)(that do not emit carbon dioxide)

Solar PowerSolar Power HydropowerHydropower Geothermal PowerGeothermal Power Wind PowerWind Power HydrogenHydrogen Nuclear U235Nuclear U235

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES INCLUDE BIOMASS, SOLAR, HYDROPOWER, GEOTHERMAL, WIND POWER AND HYDROGEN.

Although biomass is a renewable fuel, its carbon-to-hydrogen ratio is not favorable. Burning wood, straw, animal feces, etc. releases a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere.

SOLAR POWER

Photovoltaic cells directly convert solar energy into electrical energy. The typical photovoltaic cell is a transparent wafer that contains a semiconductor. Sunlight energizes and causes the electrons in the semiconductor to flow, creating an electrical current.

Solar panels come in many sizes and shapes. Solar panels come in many sizes and shapes. The semiconductor material can be made into The semiconductor material can be made into paper-thin sheets that can be incorporated into paper-thin sheets that can be incorporated into

traditional looking roofing materials or glass walls.traditional looking roofing materials or glass walls.

In some areas, solar energy is a very In some areas, solar energy is a very good source of power.good source of power.

This is a large facility inCalifornia.

The main drawback is that the sun must be shining 60%of the time. So these systems best work in regions with little cloud cover.

HYDROPOWER

Downside: Often need to construct dams. This changes the

flow pattern and ecology of rivers, and can block the amount of water farmers get. Could ultimately lead to ‘water wars’.

Some of the water is allowed to flow through huge pipes

at controlled rates, spinning turbines.

HydropowerHydropower

Water flowing from high elevations to lower elevations in rivers and streams can be controlled by dams and reservoirs.

With hydropower, flowing water turns the turbines, which generate electricity. Ocean currents can also turn turbines.

Because of increasing concern about the harmfulenvironmental and social effect of large dams, therehas been increasing pressure on the World Bankand other developmental agencies to stop funding newlarge-scale hydropower projects.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal plants harness heat from the earth’s mantle.In some places there are steam and hot water pockets trapped near the surface. This stored energy can be use to heat buildings and it can be converted into electricity.

In many places the earth’s crust is a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal exchange devices can tap into the difference between the underground and surface temperatures, using a system of pipes and ducts to heat or cool a building.

Wind power operates turbines that generate electricity

Since 1995, the use of wind turbines to produce electricity

has increased almost sevenfold.

It has been the world’s fastest-growing source of energy Europe is leading the way into the ‘age of wind energy’.

The DOE calls the Great Plains states of N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas the “Saudi Arabia of wind”.

By some calculations they have enough wind resources meet all the nation’s electricity needs.

Some people find the wind turbines ‘very ugly’.They are sometimes a hazard to migrating birdsand can be noisy.

All these forms of clean, renewable energy (solar, water, geothermal, wind) can produce electricity.

But it is difficult to store electricity.Electricity, by its very nature, FLOWS.

Hydrogen can be stored and produce electricity using fuel cells.

Storage Problem and ElectricityStorage Problem and Electricity

All these forms of clean, renewable energy (solar, water, geothermal, wind) can produce

electricity.

But it is difficult to store electricity.Electricity, by its very nature, FLOWS.

Hydrogen can be stored and produce electricityusing fuel cells.

HydrogenHydrogen

Hydrogen gas may be the best fuel to replace oil

during the last half of this century.

Advantages: – Plentiful and can be produced from water

– No CO2 emissions if produced from water

– Easier to store than electricity– Safer than gasoline or natural gas– High efficiency (45 – 65%) in fuel cells.

Burning HydrogenBurning Hydrogen

If hydrogen is burned as a fuel the product If hydrogen is burned as a fuel the product of the reaction is simply of the reaction is simply water vaporwater vapor..

2H2H22 + O + O2 2 2H2H22OO

Obtaining Hydrogen Obtaining Hydrogen

Although the element H is abundant, it is not found pure in nature.

The most common method of obtaining hydrogen is from steam reforming of natural gas.– This process also produces CO2

Hydrogen can also be produced from the Hydrogen can also be produced from the electrolysis of water. Electricity is used to split the electrolysis of water. Electricity is used to split the water molecule into Hwater molecule into H22 and O and O22

– This process does not produces CO2

Another hydrogen-production process being developedis the reforming of biomass and wastes via ‘pyrolysis’ or gasification of biomass such as agricultural residues (like peanut shells and banana skins), consumer wastes likegrease, or biomass grown specifically for energy uses.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

CO2 levels are increasing and contributing to Global Warming

Alternative forms of energy (esp. solar and wind) to generate electricity are becoming more economically attractive

Hydrogen gas can be used to produce electricity in a fuel cell and solve the storage problem with electricity

Adaptation and Mitigation are two primary responses to Global Warming

The US is promoting alternative energy - “Twenty in Ten” which will “Twenty in Ten” which will require using alternative forms of energy for gasolinerequire using alternative forms of energy for gasoline

RESOURCESRESOURCES Rocky Mountain Institute Rocky Mountain Institute www.rmi.orgwww.rmi.org http://www.greenenergyohio.orghttp://www.greenenergyohio.org http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid71.php#20H2mythshttp://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid71.php#20H2myths http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_production_delivery.htmlhttp://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_production_delivery.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect#Basic_mechanismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect#Basic_mechanism

The Hype About Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the ClimateThe Hype About Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate by by Joseph J. Romm. 2004.Joseph J. Romm. 2004.

The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the Worldwide Energy Web and the The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the Worldwide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on EarthRedistribution of Power on Earth by Jeremy Rifkin. 2003. by Jeremy Rifkin. 2003.

““Renewable Energy’s Achilles’ Heel” by Lisa Parker, Renewable Energy’s Achilles’ Heel” by Lisa Parker, GeotimesGeotimes, February 2003., February 2003. ““The Pyhsical Science Behind Climate Change” W. Collins, R. Colman, J. The Pyhsical Science Behind Climate Change” W. Collins, R. Colman, J.

Haywood, M. Manning, and P. Mote, Scientific American, Aug 2007, pp 64 to 73.Haywood, M. Manning, and P. Mote, Scientific American, Aug 2007, pp 64 to 73.

ResourcesResources

““FUELS AND GLOBAL WARMING: How Hydrogen Can Work with Other FUELS AND GLOBAL WARMING: How Hydrogen Can Work with Other Alternative Energy Sources” – Power Point Presentation by Alternative Energy Sources” – Power Point Presentation by By Linda By Linda Spurlock of Stark State College of Technology July, 2005Spurlock of Stark State College of Technology July, 2005

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001 report):