Previous Year Question
With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements.
It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.
It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Only one
Only two
All three
None
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy.
Electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The term ‘green’ denotes the low-carbon method used to produce hydrogen; the properties of the hydrogen molecule do not change because of its production source.
Hydrogen can be burned directly as a fuel in a suitably designed or modified internal-combustion engine. Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.
The combustion of hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide, but nitrogen oxides may form from atmospheric nitrogen at high temperatures.
Hydrogen can be blended with natural gas within prescribed technical limits and transported through pipelines.
This blend can be used in boilers, furnaces, gas turbines and other systems for heat or power generation. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct.
The acceptable blending proportion depends on pipeline materials, equipment, safety standards and the final use.
A hydrogen fuel cell converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity through an electrochemical reaction.
The electricity generated by the fuel cell powers the electric motor of a vehicle, and its principal outputs are water and heat. Therefore, Statement 3 is correct.
A fuel-cell vehicle uses hydrogen electrochemically instead of burning it.
Green hydrogen can also be used in steel, fertilizers, petroleum refining, heavy transport and energy storage.
Because hydrogen has a low volumetric energy density, its storage and transportation may require compression, liquefaction or chemical carriers.
Production cost, energy-conversion losses, infrastructure and safe storage are major challenges to its widespread use.