The New Hydrogen Economy

INTRODUCTION:

Attention getter: As we all know, the prices for gasoline have been on the rise.

According to the Energy Information Administration’s statistics from 2005-2007, if we were to draw a trend line for regular grade gas prices during those years; that line would have a positive slope. We also know that fossil fuels are a major source of energy for this type of fuel. However, there is a limited supply of these fossil fuels on Earth. Since there is no way of recycling fossil fuels, it is only a matter of time before they are no longer available. Well, what are we going to do when we are running low on fossil fuels? We will need another source of energy. More than likely, that source will be hydrogen. Automotive engineers have been experimenting with hydrogen combustion engines already; but have had limited success, until today. Professor Jerry Woodall of Purdue University has come up with a way to created hydrogen with little risk factors while being “economically attractive”.

Preview: I will be discussing this new method by sharing two concepts. First, I will share about the new resource and how it will allow us to safely and instantly make hydrogen. Second, I will introduce ways to recycle this resource back to its high energy state.

BODY:

Transition: The disadvantages of creating hydrogen in the past were due to risks of storage and transportation. According to The Week Magazine on April 7, 2006, in an article called, “The Car of the Future”, “No one has yet figured out how to provide hydrogen to tens of millions of motorists without great risk.” Also, according to an interview with BMW’s Dr. Frank Ochmann at the LA auto show in 2006, “We have one challenge…which is working on hydrogen…is the storage concept.”

I. The advantages of using of this new aluminum-gallium alloy take away those risks; and allows for more efficiency in safety and cost.
A. Aluminum is safe and stable at room temperature and in the air.
1. It obvious in its used for construction and commodity goods.
B. Used aluminum can be recycled, which will play a key role in its cost efficiency.
C. There is almost an unlimited supply of aluminum, which allows it to be a cheaper element to purchase.
1. This is unlike the use of platinum that was used in the hydrogen making process.
D. Essentially, aluminum is used to store energy and release the hydrogen in water into gas form.
1. According to Woodall, this is allowed to happen by “…dissolving aluminum into liquid gallium.”
2. According to The Science Channel, “…when Jerry added the gallium, it removed the aluminum’s protective shield. So now the oxygen in water can react with all the aluminum, freeing the hydrogen instantly.”
3. So upon adding water to this alloy, the byproduct of this reaction will result in pure hydrogen gas.
4. This will give us the hydrogen to power our vehicles.

Transition: Now that we have taken aluminum out of its high energy state and created aluminum oxide, we need to recycle it back to its high energy state once again.

II. The proposed process for recycling this element allows aluminum to be more resourceful.
A. According to Professor Woodall, long term aluminum recycling will be done by solar powered or wind generated farms.
1. This plant will need to be built next to a nuclear power plant for its on-site power cost.
2. With the use of these recycling plants, the price of hydrogen will match the price of gasoline.
B. Used aluminum will need to be transported back to these recycling plants.
C. With the use of these recycling plants, the price of hydrogen will match the price of gasoline.
1. The following calculations show how the prices are derived.
D. According to Mobile Magazine, “A pound of aluminum gives forth about two kilowatts of power, meaning that a 350-mile trip in a standard vehicle would require 350 pounds of aluminum and cost about $60. That dollar figure is fairly representative of current gasoline costs for the same distance.”

CONCLUSION:

Review Statement: So, in this speech, I have informed you about resource of aluminum-gallium, and how it is safer and faster in the hydrogen making process. I also told you about how the aluminum can be recycled to allow reuse of the energy source. By doing this, hydrogen will be able to replace fossil fuels while still maintaining an attractive price.

Memorable closing: Who knows, maybe someday your own children will be refueling with this new technology.

SOURCES:

Energy Information Administration. Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government. U.S. Retail Gas Prices. 14 March 2005. 14 September 2007.

Woodall, Jerry. Making of Hydrogen from Aluminum. 1 June 2007. 7 September 2007.

Ira, Flatow. Interview. Scientists Seek New Ways to Generate Hydrogen. Natl. Public Radio. Washington, D.C. 1 June 2007.

Turbo. Interview. L.A. Auto Show 2006: BMW Hydrogen 7. The Science Channel. Las Angeles. 2006.

Beck, Glenn. “T.B. Traveler Raises Security Concerns; Man Locked Up for Having T.B.; Is Hillary Pitching Socialism?; Who Will Replace Rosie on "The View?”. CNN.com. 21 May 2007 .

NewMax, SciIT News, and Mobile Magazine. Nukes news and views. 17 May 2007. 20 September 2007. .