ADVANCES IN ONSITE HYDROGEN GENERATION FOR UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION Helsinki, Finland, 30 August – 1 September 2010 Prepared and Presented by Proton Energy Systems
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ADVANCES IN ONSITE HYDROGEN GENERATION FOR UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS.
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ADVANCES IN ONSITE HYDROGEN GENERATION FOR UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS
WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF
OBSERVATIONHelsinki, Finland, 30 August – 1 September 2010
Prepared and Presented byProton Energy Systems
Upper Air Observations
• Radiosondes are sensor packages attached to weather balloons that are filled with helium or hydrogen gas
• The radiosonde generally consists of a radio transmitter, GPS receiver, temperature sensor (thermistor), humidity sensor, and sometimes a pressure sensor
• A complete vertical profile of temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction in the vicinity of the launch station can be obtained during its two hour sounding to nearly 100,000 feet up into the atmosphere
Lift Gas Use and Methods• Helium
– Delivery of pressurized cylinders is only option– Scarce outside of U.S.A.– Expensive (and getting more expensive)– Pressurized cylinders pose logistical and safety concerns
• Hydrogen– Delivery of pressurized cylinders
• Expensive, poses logistical difficulties and safety concerns– On-site production through chemical reaction
• Dangerous to personnel and the environment• Logistical difficulties and limitations on amount of gas produced
– On-site production through electrolysis• Liquid electrolyte
– Hazardous materials used, high maintenance, large footprint– Dangerous to personnel and the environment
• Solid polymer electrolyte– No hazardous materials used, safe for personnel and the environment, easy to
install and maintain, small footprint
On-site Hydrogen GenerationElectrolysis of Water Utilizing KOH, circa 1800:
2H2O(l) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)
Hydrogen gas (H22) forms at ) forms at cathodecathode
Oxygen gas (O22) forms at ) forms at
anodeanode
William Nicholson, ca. 1812Engraving by T. Blood after a portrait painted by Samuel
Drummond (1765-1844)
Effect first discovered by Effect first discovered by William Nicholson, English chemist