Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gaseous compound. The abundance of this gas on the earth is almost 75%. Let us discuss the uses of hydrogen in detail.
The industrial applications of hydrogen are listed below-
- Power generation
- Research laboratories
This article explores the uses of liquid hydrogen, blue hydrogen, green hydrogen, metallic hydrogen, and uses of hydrogen in different industries elaborately.
Research laboratories
The uses of hydrogen in research field are discussed below-
- Hydroalkylation, hydrodesulfurization, and hydrocracking.
- To saturate the broken bonds of amorphous silicon and amorphous carbon which stabilizes material properties.
- Hydrogen in pure form or mixed with nitrogen serves as a tracer gas in the detection of minor leaks
Power generation
The application of hydrogen in the power generation field are listed below-
- To produce heat and it is combined with oxygen in fuel cells to generate electricity.
- As a coolant in power generators.
- As cryogenic fuel with the combination of liquid oxygen.
Liquid Hydrogen Uses
Liquid hydrogen exists only below its critical point of 33K (20.28 K). It can be obtained from a compressor resembling a jet engine in both appearance and principle.
The applications of liquid hydrogen are listed below-
- Manufacturing industry
- Petroleum industry
- Power generation
- Space exploration
- Research laboratories
Manufacturing industry
Liquid hydrogen is considered a raw material of plastic and ammonia production in manufacturing industries.
Petroleum industry
Liquid Hydrogen is also used to make petroleum products and methanol.
Power generation
- As the fuel for an internal combustion engine, commonly known as a fuel cell.
- To cool neutrons, used in neutrons scattering.
Space exploration
Liquid hydrogen is frequently used as liquid rocket fuel for spacecraft.
Research laboratories
Superheated liquid hydrogen is used in bubble chamber experiments.
Green Hydrogen Uses
It is called ‘green hydrogen’ because this type of hydrogen production is executed by the electrolysis of water and this method does not emit carbon dioxide gas.
The industrial applications of green hydrogen are listed below-
- Power generation
- Petroleum industry
- Manufacturing industry
Power generation
- As fuel in cars, airships, and spaceships since the beginning of the 19th century.
- A significant role in the decarbonization of different sectors like industries, mobility, energy storage, etc.
Manufacturing industry
Green hydrogen is used in the manufacturing industry for the production of fertilizers and ammonia.
Petroleum industry
Green H2 is also applied in the petroleum industry to produce petroleum products.
Blue Hydrogen Uses
Blue hydrogen is produced by the separation of natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The production of blue hydrogen is dependent on fossil fuels.
The industrial applications (mainly in power generation) of blue hydrogen are written below-
- To decarbonize industrial heating, residential heating in extremely cold weather, and heavy-duty vehicles.
- For generating electricity, and powering cars, trains, and trucks.
Metallic Hydrogen Uses
Metallic hydrogen defines a particular state of hydrogen in which hydrogen behaves like an electrical conductor. This phase only exists at high pressure and high temperature.
The industries that use metallic hydrogen are mentioned below-
- Space exploration
- Superconductors industry
Space exploration
Metallic hydrogen is a powerful rocket propellant due to its lightweight and low volume.
Superconductors industry
Metallic hydrogen can be used as a room-temperature superconductor.
Industrial Hydrogen Uses
A different form of hydrogen (liquid, blue, green, grey, and metallic) is used in different industries, and they are-
- Agricultural/ chemical industry
- Petroleum refining industry
- Food
- Electronics manufacturing
- Public transportation
- Power generation
- Welding
Agricultural/ chemical industry
Hydrogen is used as a catalyst for the production of ammonia. It is also used in the production of fertilizers in the agricultural industry.
Petroleum refining industry
Hydrogen is frequently used in hydrocracking to produce petroleum products including gasoline and diesel. It is also applied to remove the impurities in methanol production.
Food industry:
Hydrogen is used to form saturated oils and fats from unsaturated fats.
Electronics manufacturing
Hydrogen is used to produce semiconductors, LEDs, displays, photovoltaic, segments with some other things.
Public transportation
Hydrogen is used in fuel cells in different transportation like cars, buses, and trains.
Power generation
Hydrogen is used for cooling power plant generators, and it also stabilizes electrical grids.
Welding
Hydrogen is used in atomic hydrogen welding, a special type of arc welding.
Conclusion
Hydrogen is the lightest element in the periodic table with a density of 0.08988 g/L and a molar mass of 1.008 g/mol. It is placed in the 1st group and 1st period. It exists in three isotopic forms, and they are 1H1, 2H1, and 3H1.
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I am Aditi Ray, a chemistry SME on this platform. I have completed graduation in Chemistry from the University of Calcutta and post graduation from Techno India University with a specialization in Inorganic Chemistry. I am very happy to be a part of the Lambdageeks family and I would like to explain the subject in a simplistic way.
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