Finance Associated Press, December 28 (edited by Huang Junzhi).Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have reportedly developed an innovative automotive fuel system that operates in a circular fashion that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.
It is reported that the system utilizes a unique liquid that, when combined with a solid catalyst, converts it into hydrogen fuel for automobiles. After use, the waste liquid is removed from the vehicle's fuel tank and filled with hydrogen so that it can be reused. This process forms a closed-loop system that significantly reduces the environmental impact.
In the latest research, researchers at Lund University have demonstrated that this method is effective, and while it is still basic research, it has the potential to become an efficient energy storage system in the future.
Our catalyst is one of the most effective, at least if you look at published research," the author of **.
1. Ola Wendt, a professor at the Department of Chemistry at Lund University, said.
Finding alternative ways to produce, store and convert energy to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuels is necessary to reduce climate impact. One of these approaches involves the much-talked about hydrogen, which many see as the energy storage solution of the future. Nature stores energy in the form of chemical bonds, and hydrogen has the highest energy density relative to its weight.
"However, natural gas is difficult to handle, so we are looking at a hydrogen-filled liquid fuel that can be delivered by pumps in a manner that is broadly similar to what is happening at gas stations today," Wendt said. ”
This concept is known as LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier). This is not a new concept, but the challenge is to find a catalyst that is as efficient as possible to extract hydrogen from the liquid. In the latest study, the liquids used by the researchers were isopropyl alcohol, a common detergent ingredient, and 4-methylpiperidine.
The system is designed to work with a liquid that is "filled" with hydrogen. The liquid is pumped through a solid catalyst to extract hydrogen. This can be used in fuel cells that convert chemical fuels into electricity, while the "used" liquid goes into another tank. The only discharge is water. The spent liquid can then be emptied at the filling station and a new charged liquid can be added.
We convert more than 99 percent of the hydrogen in the liquid," Wendt said.