What fuel source and process would produce the most economical hydrogen?
Coal and the Integrated Plasma Fuel Cell process is calculated to produce the most economical hydrogen in conjunction with electricity. Natural gas has the richest hydrogen content, having a hydrogen to carbon ratio of 4. It is also the most expensive fuel for the energy it contains. Petroleum has a hydrogen to carbon ratio of 1.7, and is lower in energy cost than natural gas. Finally, coal has a hydrogen to carbon ratio of 0.8 and is the lowest in energy cost. Another important point is that the carbon in all these fuels can be combined with water to make additional hydrogen. This means that both the Integrated Plasma Fuel Cell process and the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle could be configured to utilize the carbon in the fuel to produce only hydrogen. Fuel cost, energy content, electricity production, the need for steam and oxygen, and the use of water all influence the answer. However, they add up to one bottom line conclusion: The most economical production of hydrogen is o
