Mobile Menu

  • Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Home Jobs by MOM

Insights. Ideas. Improvements.

  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Business Ideas
    • Online Tools for Bloggers
  • Improving Family Life
  • Contact
  • Search
Hiding Your Ugly Kitchen Boiler

The Pros and Cons of Hydrogen vs Natural Gas Boilers

You are here: Home / Lifestyle / The Pros and Cons of Hydrogen vs Natural Gas Boilers

January 27, 2022 //  by Home Jobs By Mom//  2 Comments




Tweet
Pin17
Share

This article contains affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.

aerial view of a neighborhood The Pros and Cons of Hydrogen vs Natural Gas Boilers

The most commonly used energy sources in today’s world are fossil fuels. The two most popular fossil fuel choices, hydrogen and natural gas have been around for a while now. In recent years, both fuels have been considered viable alternatives to one another. It is suggested that because hydrogen boilers are so new, common boiler issues may be a problem.

Although there is quite a distinct difference between them, you can use them both to power boilers for commercial uses. It is crucial to understand their differences to choose the most suitable fuel for your needs.

Learn the pros and cons of natural gas boilers versus those that run on hydrogen!Click To Tweet

What’s the Difference Between Gas and Hydrogen Boilers?

Gas boilers can use either natural or liquid petroleum gas, while hydrogen boilers use hydrogen gas.

The heat from natural gas is created within the unit, while in hydrogen boilers it’s caused by an electric current that runs through metal plates containing hydrogen.

Affordability

Both gases are pretty affordable, with hydrogen being slightly more expensive than natural gas.

The sources of fuel are affordable as well. They are produced through various sources, with natural gas being mainly extracted from the ground while hydrogen is created through water electrolysis or steam reforming of methane.

Energy Independence

Natural gas is much more likely to be used as an energy source. Hydrogen production requires transportation and scientific knowledge that not all countries can afford.

So, it is not very energy independent. However, in the future, it’s possible that a cost-effective and sustainable method for producing hydrogen could be discovered.

Multiple Applications

Both gases can power commercial boilers. You can also use them in gas turbines and engines for transportation, like cars and ships.

Hydrogen has a higher calorific value than natural gas. Natural gas is also being used as a substitute for crude oil, especially by the petrochemical industry.

Environmental Benefits

Hydrogen has no by-products during combustion, so it does not contribute to greenhouse gases and global warming. However, natural gas does have several by-products, including carbon dioxide and methane. These gases are harmful to the environment.

Pollution levels from natural gas combustion are also much higher than hydrogen.

Safety

Hydrogen is a highly explosive gas requiring special attention during transportation and storage. On the other hand, natural gas has no such issues, mainly because you can easily convert it into a liquid form for easy handling.

However, when burned, natural gas emits carbon monoxide, which is very harmful to the environment. Therefore boiler installation companies need extra training given the additional risk and dangers involved.

Flexibility

You can easily transport natural gas in liquid form, which is more flexible than hydrogen for commercial uses. On the other hand, you must convert hydrogen into liquid before transportation, which requires special facilities and considerable costs.

Moreover, natural gas is not flammable at low temperatures, so it does not require special measures during transportation.

High Calorific Value

The high caloric value of hydrogen makes it a fuel of choice for powering boilers, especially those used commercially.

Natural gas is a low-calorie fuel that can be used in place of hydrogen, but it produces greenhouse gases when combusted. This makes natural gas an imperfect choice for heating purposes.

Availability

The availability of natural gas deposits worldwide makes it an ideal fuel for generating electricity. Hydrogen, on the other hand, has been difficult to obtain since the 90s. Some companies invest in research to find new ways of producing hydrogen instead of fossil fuels.

Hydrogen is a gas that occurs naturally in the ground or it can be produced by breaking water apart with an electrolyzer. This is where an electric current breaks down H2O molecules into their component parts.

Ease of Storage

You can easily store natural gas because you can transform it into liquid form for storage purposes. You can also store hydrogen the same way, but it requires more energy to store its molecules correctly because its molecules are smaller.

Resistance to High Temperatures

Natural gas has a higher tensile strength than hydrogen, so it is more resistant to high temperatures. This makes natural gas a better choice for powering boilers in industries that require high heat.

Hydrogen also has a higher calorific value, but its resistance to extreme heat limits its use in heating systems.

Leakage Detection

As mentioned above, hydrogen has a higher calorific value, but its molecules are smaller than natural gas, so it is more difficult to detect in case of leakage.

Natural gas has a distinct smell that helps identify leaks easily and quickly, but no such mechanism exists yet for hydrogen, so leak detection is a problem.

Amount of Energy Produced

Natural gas produces more energy during combustion compared to hydrogen because it contains a more significant number of atoms per molecule. On the other hand, hydrogen is harder to store and transport because of its size.

Natural gas is also more abundant than hydrogen, making it a more reliable fuel source.

Longevity of Equipment

Natural gas does not corrode equipment used in its delivery or transportation.

Hydrogen, however, produces corrosion in all types of equipment, especially those made of iron. This makes natural gas a much better choice for both sea-based and land-based transport over hydrogen and much less likely to need boiler cover insurance.

Heat Production

A gas boiler relies on burning gas to produce heat. In contrast, a hydrogen boiler uses an electric current to run through metal plates containing hydrogen, creating a chemical reaction between the plates and the water, producing heat (Ashe).

The primary component of both types of boilers is water. The boilers use the water as a medium to transfer and distribute heat (Ashe).

Temperature

The main element that differs between the two is the temperature. A temperature range for gas is between 100 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius, but a hydrogen boiler can reach temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius.

The entire point of the boilers is to heat water above its standard boiling point for it to boil. This makes sense because you need more energy or fuel to increase the temperature (Ashe).

Conclusion

A new, cleaner fuel source or just an energy-intensive distraction? The ongoing debate over the effectiveness and efficiency of hydrogen as a “clean” fossil fuel is heated and has many arguments on both sides.

One side believes that using natural gas to produce hydrogen instead of burning it in power plants can avoid carbon dioxide emissions while powering our cars with the resulting product. The other argues that this process will only create more pollution than running things without any changes. What do you think?

Can you name any other disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel?

Home Jobs By Mom
Home Jobs By Mom

Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.

Tweet
Pin17
Share



Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

6 Tips for a Perfect Beach Day: Beach and Ocean Safety Supplies

Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

Turning 40 Women’s Health: How to Stay Healthy and Fit @SuperiorSource

5 Tips For Designing Your Own Custom Baby Onesie Bodysuit

5 Factors Driving Up the Supply Demand Real Estate Market

Keep Your Home Safe by Installing Wireless Smoke CO Detectors #XSense

2022 Dads & Grads Gift Guide

10 Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas for a Single Woman

4 Money-Saving Tips When Online Shopping for Tech Gadgets

5 Must-Have Items to Add to Your Family Camping Trip List

Insurance Investment Property Tips for New Homes and Income Properties

Previous Post: « 6 Simple Ways to Save Money When Expecting a Baby
Next Post: French Doors: Get to Know the Right Option for You »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauryn R

    January 31, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    Very informative post, thank you so much for sharing! I have never even heard of hydrogen gas boilers before. I would definitely be clueless on this subject before now.

    Reply
    • Home Jobs By Mom

      March 9, 2022 at 7:23 am

      No worries! Hydrogen boilers are something most people don’t know about.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Get a look into a mom's inkling into this crazy thing called life.
Read More…

Recent Posts

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Restore Your Roof’s Appearance

Best Side Hustles for Working Moms to Supplement Income

Best Side Hustles for Working Moms to Supplement Income

6 Tips for a Perfect Beach Day: Beach and Ocean Safety Supplies

6 Tips for a Perfect Beach Day: Beach and Ocean Safety Supplies

Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

Meal Prep Tips for Families: 4 Tips to Get You Started

Meal Prep Tips for Families: 4 Tips to Get You Started

Blogger Opp: Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-In-1 Alarms Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Blogger Opp: X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-In-1 Alarms Giveaway #BloggersWanted

Turning 40 Women’s Health: How to Stay Healthy and Fit @SuperiorSource

Turning 40 Women’s Health: How to Stay Healthy and Fit @SuperiorSource

5 Tips For Designing Your Own Custom Baby Onesie Bodysuit

5 Tips For Designing Your Own Custom Baby Onesie Bodysuit

Getting Newborn Into Sleep Routine: Helpful Strategies That Work

Getting Newborn Into Sleep Routine: Helpful Strategies That Work

Giveaways

Batman Phone Case Giveaway (Ends 6/13) @goosegiveaways @fanmerchstore

Batman Phone Case Giveaway (Ends 6/13) @goosegiveaways @fanmerchstore

Transformative Strategies Book Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SilvieArmas

Transformative Strategies Book Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SilvieArmas

DinoMAYnia Book Collection Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @DeliciouslySavv @NGKidsBk

DinoMAYnia Book Collection Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @DeliciouslySavv @NGKidsBk

Coziest Night’s Sleep EVER Giveaway (Ends 6/25) @DeliciouslySavv @PeachSkinSheets

Coziest Night’s Sleep EVER Giveaway (Ends 6/25) @DeliciouslySavv @PeachSkinSheets

@TRENDHIM Leather Belt Giveaway (Ends 6/1) @Versatileer

@TRENDHIM Leather Belt Giveaway (Ends 6/1) @Versatileer

@JohnBoosCo Cherry Cutting Board Giveaway (Ends 6/27) @DeliciouslySavv

@JohnBoosCo Cherry Cutting Board Giveaway (Ends 6/27) @DeliciouslySavv

Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SuperiorSource

Women’s Health Month Vitamin Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SuperiorSource

Lurvz Silicone Utensils Set Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @LurvzUs @Versatileer

Lurvz Silicone Utensils Set Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @LurvzUs @Versatileer

@IQAir Seasonal Allergy Relief Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @DeliciouslySavv

@IQAir Seasonal Allergy Relief Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @DeliciouslySavv

X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-in-1 Alarms Giveaway (Ends 6/13)

X-Sense Wireless Interconnected 2-in-1 Alarms Giveaway (Ends 6/13)

            Enter more giveaways here!

Free Download

Productivity-Planner-Preview

“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

Download the FREE Colorable Productivity Planner to get your life more organized. Sign up as a newsletter insider today!

Be A Better You

This website uses affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.

  • About Home Jobs By Mom
  • Terms & Privacy
  • Contact

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 Home Jobs by MOM · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT