IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2022i1p436-d1020365.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Aluminum-Based Fuels as Energy Carriers for Controllable Power and Hydrogen Generation—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyue Gao

    (State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Chang’an Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Wengang Bai

    (National Engineering Research Center of Integration and Maintenance of Clean and Low-Carbon Thermal Power Generation System (NERC of TPGS), Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Yujie Hou

    (State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Defu Che

    (State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

Abstract

Metallic aluminum is widely used in propellants, energy-containing materials, and batteries due to its high energy density. In addition to burning in the air, aluminum can react with water to generate hydrogen. Aluminum is carbon-free and the solid-phase products can be recycled easily after the reaction. Micron aluminum powder is stable in the air and enables global trade. Aluminum metal is considered to be a viable recyclable carrier for clean energy. Based on the reaction characteristics of aluminum fuel in air and water, this work summarizes the energy conversion system of aluminum fuel, the combustion characteristics of aluminum, and the recycling of aluminum. The conversion path and application direction of electric energy and chemistry in the aluminum energy conversion system are described. The reaction properties of aluminum in the air are described, as well as the mode of activation and the effects of the aluminum-water reaction. In situ hydrogen production is achievable through the aluminum-water reaction. The development of low-carbon and energy-saving electrolytic aluminum technology is introduced. The work also analyzes the current difficulties and development directions for the large-scale application of aluminum fuel energy storage technology. The development of energy storage technology based on aluminum is conducive to transforming the energy structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyue Gao & Chang’an Wang & Wengang Bai & Yujie Hou & Defu Che, 2022. "Aluminum-Based Fuels as Energy Carriers for Controllable Power and Hydrogen Generation—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:436-:d:1020365
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/436/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/436/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Srirangan, Kajan & Akawi, Lamees & Moo-Young, Murray & Chou, C. Perry, 2012. "Towards sustainable production of clean energy carriers from biomass resources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 172-186.
    2. Bolt, Andre & Dincer, Ibrahim & Agelin-Chaab, Martin, 2020. "Energy and exergy analyses of hydrogen production process with aluminum and water chemical reaction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    3. Bergthorson, Jeffrey M. & Yavor, Yinon & Palecka, Jan & Georges, William & Soo, Michael & Vickery, James & Goroshin, Samuel & Frost, David L. & Higgins, Andrew J., 2017. "Metal-water combustion for clean propulsion and power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(P1), pages 13-27.
    4. Charlotte Jones & Donald W. Hine & Anthony D. G. Marks, 2017. "The Future is Now: Reducing Psychological Distance to Increase Public Engagement with Climate Change," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 331-341, February.
    5. Yang, Weijuan & Zhang, Tianyou & Zhou, Junhu & Shi, Wei & Liu, Jianzhong & Cen, Kefa, 2015. "Experimental study on the effect of low melting point metal additives on hydrogen production in the aluminum–water reaction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 537-543.
    6. Xiao, Fei & Guo, Yanpei & Li, Jianmin & Yang, Rongjie, 2018. "Hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of activated aluminum composites in tap water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 608-614.
    7. Trowell, K.A. & Goroshin, S. & Frost, D.L. & Bergthorson, J.M., 2020. "Aluminum and its role as a recyclable, sustainable carrier of renewable energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    8. Castán Broto, Vanesa, 2017. "Urban Governance and the Politics of Climate change," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-15.
    9. Jakob Skovgaard & Harro van Asselt, 2019. "The politics of fossil fuel subsidies and their reform: Implications for climate change mitigation," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(4), July.
    10. Haller, Michel Y. & Amstad, Dominik & Dudita, Mihaela & Englert, Alexander & Häberle, Andreas, 2021. "Combined heat and power production based on renewable aluminium-water reaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 879-893.
    11. Yang, Weijuan & Zhang, Tianyou & Liu, Jianzhong & Wang, Zhihua & Zhou, Junhu & Cen, Kefa, 2015. "Experimental researches on hydrogen generation by aluminum with adding lithium at high temperature," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 451-457.
    12. Wang, H.Z. & Leung, D.Y.C. & Leung, M.K.H. & Ni, M., 2009. "A review on hydrogen production using aluminum and aluminum alloys," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 845-853, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiao, Fei & Yang, Rongjie & Li, Jianmin, 2019. "Hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of activated aluminum/organic fluoride/bismuth composites with high hydrogen generation rate and good aging resistance in air," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 159-169.
    2. Janicka, J. & Debiagi, P. & Scholtissek, A. & Dreizler, A. & Epple, B. & Pawellek, R. & Maltsev, A. & Hasse, C., 2023. "The potential of retrofitting existing coal power plants: A case study for operation with green iron," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    3. Trowell, K.A. & Goroshin, S. & Frost, D.L. & Bergthorson, J.M., 2020. "Aluminum and its role as a recyclable, sustainable carrier of renewable energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    4. Haller, Michel Y. & Amstad, Dominik & Dudita, Mihaela & Englert, Alexander & Häberle, Andreas, 2021. "Combined heat and power production based on renewable aluminium-water reaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 879-893.
    5. Maas, Pascal & Schiemann, Martin & Scherer, Viktor & Fischer, Peter & Taroata, Dan & Schmid, Günther, 2018. "Lithium as energy carrier: CFD simulations of LI combustion in a 100MW slag tap furnace," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 506-515.
    6. Xiao, Fei & Guo, Yanpei & Li, Jianmin & Yang, Rongjie, 2018. "Hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of activated aluminum composites in tap water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 608-614.
    7. Gai, Wei-Zhuo & Wang, Le-Yao & Lu, Meng-Yao & Deng, Zhen-Yan, 2023. "Effect of low concentration hydroxides on Al hydrolysis for hydrogen production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    8. Alviani, Vani Novita & Hirano, Nobuo & Watanabe, Noriaki & Oba, Masahiro & Uno, Masaoki & Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi, 2021. "Local initiative hydrogen production by utilization of aluminum waste materials and natural acidic hot-spring water," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    9. Jamey Davies & Stephanus P. Du Preez & Dmitri G. Bessarabov, 2022. "The Hydrolysis of Ball-Milled Aluminum–Bismuth–Nickel Composites for On-Demand Hydrogen Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
    10. Su, Ming & Hu, Haiping & Gan, Jianchang & Ye, Wenhua & Zhang, Wenhua & Wang, Huihu, 2021. "Thermodynamics, kinetics and reaction mechanism of hydrogen production from a novel Al alloy/NaCl/g-C3N4 composite by low temperature hydrolysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    11. Zhuk, A.Z. & Shkolnikov, E.I. & Borodina, T.I. & Valiano, G.E. & Dolzhenko, A.V. & Kiseleva, E.A. & Kochanova, S.A. & Filippov, E.D. & Semenova, V.A., 2023. "Aluminium – Water hydrogen generator for domestic and mobile application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    12. David Klenert & Franziska Funke & Linus Mattauch & Brian O’Callaghan, 2020. "Five Lessons from COVID-19 for Advancing Climate Change Mitigation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(4), pages 751-778, August.
    13. Bauer, Fredric & Hulteberg, Christian, 2014. "Isobutanol from glycerine – A techno-economic evaluation of a new biofuel production process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 261-268.
    14. López-González, D. & Puig-Gamero, M. & Acién, F.G. & García-Cuadra, F. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2015. "Energetic, economic and environmental assessment of the pyrolysis and combustion of microalgae and their oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1752-1770.
    15. Debora Sotto & Arlindo Philippi & Tan Yigitcanlar & Md Kamruzzaman, 2019. "Aligning Urban Policy with Climate Action in the Global South: Are Brazilian Cities Considering Climate Emergency in Local Planning Practice?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-31, September.
    16. Preston Greene, 2024. "Social bias, not time bias," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 23(1), pages 100-121, February.
    17. Seckin, Candeniz & Bayulken, Ahmet R., 2013. "Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) analysis of municipal wastewater treatment – Determination of environmental remediation cost for municipal wastewater," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 55-64.
    18. Chai, Y.J. & Dong, Y.M. & Meng, H.X. & Jia, Y.Y. & Shen, J. & Huang, Y.M. & Wang, N., 2014. "Hydrogen generation by aluminum corrosion in cobalt (II) chloride and nickel (II) chloride aqueous solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 204-209.
    19. Sperling, K. & Arler, F., 2020. "Local government innovation in the energy sector: A study of key actors’ strategies and arguments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    20. Arodudu, Oludunsin Tunrayo & Helming, Katharina & Voinov, Alexey & Wiggering, Hubert, 2017. "Integrating agronomic factors into energy efficiency assessment of agro-bioenergy production – A case study of ethanol and biogas production from maize feedstock," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 426-439.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:436-:d:1020365. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.