Hydrogen fuel is one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels with almost zero emissions of harmful products of combustion. The problem is that hydrogen (H2) is obtained by a process known as “methane vapor” which, alas, stands out CO2 – the main factor of global warming.
Daniel Esposito, associate Professor of chemical engineering school of engineering and applied Sciences at Columbia University together with their colleagues developed a technology of water electrolysis (separation of hydrogen and oxygen O2) without releasing CO2. They created a pilot installation called “floating photovoltaic cell” will become a prototype of equipment for the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale. An industrial plant will be located in the open sea, looking like a sea of floating oil platform.
The device represents a unique configuration of electrodes that separate and collect hydrogen and oxygen with the features of their buoyancy bubbles in the water. The system does not require pumping of the fluid inside the device, resulting in possible to obtain a purity of 99% hydrogen.
Yet laboratory setting D. Esposito is not ready for testing in the marine environment. However, in the future, scientists intend to Refine the design and make it more efficient and productive.
“There are many possible technological solutions in the energy of the future, however, so far only in theory,” explains D. Esposito. “Our goal is to create scalable and cost-effective technology that turns sunlight into useful energy that can be stored in a dark time.”
Source — Science Direct