This manuscript addresses the synthesis of optimal hydrogen distribution systems bearing in mind both economic and operational issues.
By comparison, solar powered electrolysis, photoelectrochemical and photochemical technologies can be more advantageous for hydrogen fueling stations because fewer processes are needed, external power sources can be avoided, and extra hydrogen distribution systems can be avoided as well.
This also means there is no need to operate the FCCHP anymore, and the hydrogen storage could be considered as unnecessary if the produced hydrogen can be directly injected into the hydrogen infrastructure such as gas networks or hydrogen distribution systems.
Even if engineers overcome all the obstacles of hydrogen storage, the size of the fuel cell and making the technology affordable, there is still the big question of producing the necessary volume of hydrogen and building a distribution system to make the fuel available to motorists.
The systems analysis approach allows for explicit consideration of the interactions between feedstock collection, hydrogen production, and hydrogen distribution in finding the optimal system design.
Recently, the addition of silver-stabilised hydrogen peroxide to the water distribution system of a hospital in the UK resulted in a fatality and caused harm to a number of patients undergoing dialysis treatment [ 7].
Fewer stations lead to a larger station size, suggesting a need to re-examine the current thinking on designs of hydrogen station and distribution systems and to conduct more regional studies to identify more or less promising regions for hydrogen.
The auto makers are working with major fuel companies, including BP and Exxon Mobil Corp., to develop hydrogen manufacturing and distribution systems.
But fuel cells are still about ten times more expensive to make than internal-combustion engines, and cost, technical and safety problems remain to be resolved in setting up a distribution system to get hydrogen into the cars.Meanwhile most car companies are introducing hybrid-electric cars, emulating Toyota's Prius, of which 200,000 have already been sold.
The key goal is the development of hydrogen-related technologies needed for hydrogen generation, hydrogen storage, hydrogen transportation and hydrogen distribution as well as hydrogen safety systems.
