Fuel Cell Essay

phs Raw Data Pop Test Properties: “Pop-test” Properties of Hydrogen Gas faint pop followed by extinguishing of flame “Pop- test” Properties of Oxygen Gas no pop , flame not extinguished Relative Loudness and Distance Oxygen: Hydrogen Mole Ratio Relative Loudness Trial 1 Relative Loudness Trial 2 Relative Loudness Trial 3 Average Loudness Average Deviation Distance travelled (meters) 1:5 8.0 9.0 9.0 8.6 0.46 5.5 2:4 10.0 10.0 10.0 10 0 7.0 3:3 7.0 6.0 6.0 6.3 0.43 7.5 4:2 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.6 0.46 6.6 5:1 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.6 0.46 5.7 Average Deviation- 0.30 Maximum deviation- 0.46 Mole Ratio vs. Excess Parts O2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Parts H2 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Reactant in Excess H2 H2 Neither O2 O2 O2 O2 Moles in excess 6 3 None 1.5 3 4.5 6 Calculations

Hardman, S., Shiu, E., & Steinberger-Wilckens, R. (2015). Changing the fate of Fuel Cell Vehicles: Can lessons be learnt from Tesla Motors?

A fuel cell is, in principle, a very simple electrochemical device. The chemical reaction that powers hydrogen fuel cells is the same as that which occurs when hydrogen burns. The chemical equation for this reaction is: 2H2 + O2 ( 2H2O + energy. "Normally hydrogen burns, reacting with oxygen from the air, producing water, heat and light. ... In the fuel cell the chemical reaction is exactly the same, but instead of producing light and heat energy, electrical energy is produced."2 All fuel cells consist of an electrolyte (a substance that allows only the passage of ions) sandwiched between two electrodes. When a fuel containing hydrogen is passed over the negative electrode, otherwise known as an anode, it is ionized. Ionization of the fuel, often accomplished with the assistance of a catalyst, removes electrons from the hydrogen creating positively charged hydrogen ions and negatively charged free electrons. Since only the ions can pass through the electrolyte situated between the electrodes, the electrons must find another route to the positive electrode or cathode, where they will be reunited with the hydrogen ions and combined with oxygen atoms to form water. The electrons passing around the electrolyte constitute an electric current, and thus can be used to provide power during their journey from anode to cathode.3

First, the article claims that the fuel cell engines utilize easily available , renewable resources. However, the professor refutes that by saying that the resources are not easily available. Although, hydrogen is available in water, but it's not usable. She said it must be in apurified liquid state and it's highly artificial, so the process of produce and stor the liquid hydrogen is not easy because

The two terminals (anode and cathode) are made of different chemicals but are typically metals and the electrolyte which separates the terminals. The electrolyte is the chemical medium or a moist solvent which allows the flow of electrical charge between the cathode and anode, making the reaction happen. When a device connects to the battery the reactions begin at the electrodes and the magic begins.

Lithium-ion batteries are becoming more common in portable electronic devices due to their high-energy density, lack of memory effect, and high charge and discharge rate capabilities. Research and development work is ongoing to improve safety and increase capacity, charge/discharge rate, and lifetime. Demand for electric vehicle batteries is currently small, but it is expected to grow very quickly. China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States are the major lithium-ion battery manufacturers for hybrid and electric vehicle applications.

The Fuel-Cell Propulsion Institute conducted research on a Hydrogen Fuel-Cell based Shunt Locomotive. The article

One of the leading causes of lung cancer is believed to be air pollution. With nearly all automobiles running on gasoline, there is a much higher chance of obtaining a life threatening disease. There are many different solutions that attempted to fix the problem of automobile pollution but only one has come close. The hydrogen fuel cell consists of two electrodes, a positively charged cathode, and a negatively charged anode. The fuel cell has an electrolyte that sends electrically charged particles from one electrode to the other. The hydrogen fuel cell is able to produce energy as long as oxygen and hydrogen are available. Hydrogen fuel cells don’t produce emissions and are also able to power all motor vehicles. These special fuel cells do not cause pollution or create dangerous byproducts, their only byproducts are water and heat. In addition, a hydrogen fuel cell is way more efficient than gasoline powered engines. Most forms of transportation emit harmful emissions and cause pollution. The hydrogen fuel cell is an environmentally friendly alternative to

Federal Government and oil companies put forward hydrogen fuel cells as a better alternative to gas and battery electric cars. In contrast, interviews with two hydrogen experts gave details why fuel cell vehicles are not likely to be available for another 15-20 years if ever, whereas battery electric technology is available now, has been rapidly improving since the mid 1990s and is cost effective.

Another area of technology that the automobile industry is working on is fuel cells. Even though it is predicted that automobiles using fuel cells will not be released until 2010, Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV), may be the next revolutionary idea in automobiles. FCVs reflect a completely new way of thinking about automobiles. FCVs use electric

small, positively-charged proton with a negatively-charged electron orbiting very fast, a model analogous to the earth orbiting the sun, or the moon orbiting the earth. Fuel cells take advantage of this structure. Using a membrane and a catalyst, hydrogen is broken up into a proton and an electron. While there are many different membrane models for fuel cells, the most appropriate one for car travel is the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM, also called the Proton Exchange Membrane). It is called this because protons are able to easily pass through the membrane. However, because the membrane does not allow electrons to pass through it, the electrons take a detour through an electrical circuit to the other side of the cell. If hydrogen is supplied into the cell at a steady rate, the stream of electrons in the electrical circuit creates electric power. However, like all batteries, you need a positive end (cathode) and a negative end (anode); in other words, the hydrogen atoms must have a “reason” to make this electrical circuit. And what is this reason? Oxygen. With oxygen at the other end, hydrogen is more than willing to create this current so that it can bind and form H2O, or water on the other end.

Well we all know that the energy system is very unstable because the total energy available on the earth is limited, and man has exploited all the conventional technologies to fulfill his needs. By the use of these conventional technologies, the world also has a disability, with problems such as global warming. Consumption of energy by man increased gradually as his wants also increase. The conventional energy resources mainly include fossil fuels, but research shows that this fuel source will be depleted completely in approximately 20-25 years. This could cause major setbacks around the world. As a result, we need an alternative source of fuel that could keep the world running on its wheel. One possibility is ethanol. Chemically extract

Currently, electric hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicles attract more and more people’s attention. The benefits of electric hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicles are less fuel cost, less emissions, less maintenance etc. But there are still many drawbacks such as higher price, less space in electric hybrid vehicles, require recharging everyday on plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles, limited mileage per recharging in pure electric vehicles etc. There are many engineering challenges along with these drawbacks. One of them is energy storage technology. In recent electrified automotive markets,

In view that future application would most likely be based on the use of multiple modules connected together instead of one large reactor, the MDC module in this study was made up of 30 individual tubular MDCs. Each MDC consists of one anion exchange membrane (AEM) tube inside the cation exchange membrane (CEM) tube. Two ways of parallel connections of the MDC were investigated. One way was via combined connection whereby all the anodes or cathodes are connected to form one anode or cathode (total 1

In order to understand the why behind the need to change from fossil fuels to hydrogen power, it is necessary to understand what that power is and how it works. Hydrogen is the most abundant and simplest element on earth. It is most commonly found as part of water. In its pure gaseous form it is extremely light, but when ignited in this state releases a large amount of energy in an explosion. In this violent reaction the hydrogen combines with free oxygen molecules in the atmosphere and creates water vapor. This is similar to the way gasoline is combined with air and ignited in an internal combustion engine in the cars used today and like with gasoline, the combustion of hydrogen has risks. In addition to the risk, some of the energy released in the reaction is lost in the form of sound and heat. As an alternative to burning, these same gases can be combined with the use of catalysts to extract the free electrons produced as liquid water is formed(Popovici and Hoble Dorel). Using cables connected to a fuel cell such as this, those electrons go through a circuit, generating electricity. This is more efficient than combustion because less energy is wasted in the form of sound and heat. Going further, greater efficiency for this reaction can be had the lower the temperature it is allowed to take place at, with 83% power at 25◦C(77◦ F)(Popovici and Hoble Dorel). As fuel cells are created with better heat management and