14
Water for Energy and Fuel Production
One of the major issues with all these technologies for water dissociation is the
low conversion efficiency. Various modifications of electrolysis, photocatalysis, and
thermochemical methods have been tested in the literature. These are briefly assessed
in the chapter as well. The use of solar and nuclear energy to dissociate water has also
been extensively examined in the literature. These technologies are also surveyed in
the chapter. A significant breakthrough in water dissociation technology can significantly change the energy landscape and push us more close to the hydrogen economy.
1.2.11 ChAPTer 12: ProduCTion oF meThAne From gAS hydrATeS
Chapter 12 deals with another direct source of fuel from water, that is, gas hydrates.
Methane gas hydrates are naturally occurring methane trapped in water. These gas
hydrates are unique substances that are found at the bottom of the sea and in arctic
conditions such as in Alaska and Siberia. These naturally occurring hydrates require
right temperature and pressure conditions for their stable formation. While hydrates
are in general unstable, highly dispersed, and difficult to recover, there is more carbon in methane gas hydrates than in all other fossil fuels combined.
Gas hydrates are of great importance for a number of reasons. Naturally occurring methane gas clathrates contain enormous amounts of strategic energy reserve.
In offshore hydrocarbon drilling and production operations, gas hydrates cause
major and potentially hazardous flow assurance problems. Gas hydrates also pose
potential danger to deep water drilling installations, pipelines, and subsea cables.
The recovery of gas hydrates by carbon dioxide provides an opportunity to dispose
carbon dioxide by sequestration. Gas hydrates also provide an increasing awareness of the relationship between hydrates and subsea slope stability. Finally, it creates long-term considerations with respect to hydrate stability, methane release, and
global climate change. Some of these topics along with numerous methods for the
recovery are briefly discussed in Chapter 12.
1.2.12 ChAPTer 13: WATer AS A direCT SourCe oF energy
Water is also a direct source for energy and power. This is accomplished by three
different methods: hydroelectricity, hydrokinetic energy, and ocean thermal energy
conversion.
The generation of power (hydroelectricity) with the potential energy from waterfalls using dams has been long known, and many dams across the world generate a
significant amount of electricity from waterfalls. This is one of the cleanest sources
of power and is practiced globally. The industry can be broken into large, small,
mini-, micro-, and pico-plants depending on the level of the electricity generation.
The use of this technology is continuing to grow all over the world.
More recently, more efforts have been made to harness the kinetic energy of the
moving water in rivers, seas, and oceans. This method captures energy from sea
and ocean waves and undercurrents, tidal waves, and inland waterways. New modern technologies are introduced that can generate hydrokinetic power using devices
that can handle high-amplitude waves and fast currents. The chapter examines these
Water for Energy and Fuel Production
One of the major issues with all these technologies for water dissociation is the
low conversion efficiency. Various modifications of electrolysis, photocatalysis, and
thermochemical methods have been tested in the literature. These are briefly assessed
in the chapter as well. The use of solar and nuclear energy to dissociate water has also
been extensively examined in the literature. These technologies are also surveyed in
the chapter. A significant breakthrough in water dissociation technology can significantly change the energy landscape and push us more close to the hydrogen economy.
1.2.11 ChAPTer 12: ProduCTion oF meThAne From gAS hydrATeS
Chapter 12 deals with another direct source of fuel from water, that is, gas hydrates.
Methane gas hydrates are naturally occurring methane trapped in water. These gas
hydrates are unique substances that are found at the bottom of the sea and in arctic
conditions such as in Alaska and Siberia. These naturally occurring hydrates require
right temperature and pressure conditions for their stable formation. While hydrates
are in general unstable, highly dispersed, and difficult to recover, there is more carbon in methane gas hydrates than in all other fossil fuels combined.
Gas hydrates are of great importance for a number of reasons. Naturally occurring methane gas clathrates contain enormous amounts of strategic energy reserve.
In offshore hydrocarbon drilling and production operations, gas hydrates cause
major and potentially hazardous flow assurance problems. Gas hydrates also pose
potential danger to deep water drilling installations, pipelines, and subsea cables.
The recovery of gas hydrates by carbon dioxide provides an opportunity to dispose
carbon dioxide by sequestration. Gas hydrates also provide an increasing awareness of the relationship between hydrates and subsea slope stability. Finally, it creates long-term considerations with respect to hydrate stability, methane release, and
global climate change. Some of these topics along with numerous methods for the
recovery are briefly discussed in Chapter 12.
1.2.12 ChAPTer 13: WATer AS A direCT SourCe oF energy
Water is also a direct source for energy and power. This is accomplished by three
different methods: hydroelectricity, hydrokinetic energy, and ocean thermal energy
conversion.
The generation of power (hydroelectricity) with the potential energy from waterfalls using dams has been long known, and many dams across the world generate a
significant amount of electricity from waterfalls. This is one of the cleanest sources
of power and is practiced globally. The industry can be broken into large, small,
mini-, micro-, and pico-plants depending on the level of the electricity generation.
The use of this technology is continuing to grow all over the world.
More recently, more efforts have been made to harness the kinetic energy of the
moving water in rivers, seas, and oceans. This method captures energy from sea
and ocean waves and undercurrents, tidal waves, and inland waterways. New modern technologies are introduced that can generate hydrokinetic power using devices
that can handle high-amplitude waves and fast currents. The chapter examines these