Fuel Cell Essay

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Vs. Gasoline: Who’s Down With HFC? ABSTRACT: The world’s oil supply is a diminishing nonrenewable resource. Soon, a new fuel for automobiles will be needed. Hydrogen fuel cells may very well become the chief replacement for gasoline in our society. INTRODUCTION: In our busy world today, we often find ourselves surrounded by vehicles. But how often do we ponder about by which means these vehicles are running? Vehicles are fueled by gasoline, a gradually diminishing resource

Every element is valuable and unique due to the endless arrangements of sub-atomic particles, which fascinates me. This allows for a diversity of elemental properties, sparking innovation for chemists to develop new products from different tasting chocolates to materials used for rockets- shaping society and the environment of the modern world. The sheer range of applications where chemistry is involved inspires me to contribute, while learning, unlocking why everything behaves the way it does. With

Microbial Fuel Cells use bacteria to convert waste into electrical energy. These bacteria break down almost any biodegradable organic waste including sewage and water waste and use it as fuel to generate power. Places like Penn State University and The Biodesign Institute in Arizona State University are already testing and improving this new alternative energy. According to Penn State University they have achieved in producing 1.5 watts per meter squared of amount of waste water taken in and believe

A H2/O2 proton−exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a clean, sustainable energy source and suitable for the operation of small electronic device [1]. Among many problems that still exist for PEMFC, the sluggish reactions at the cathode electrode and poor mass transport of protons and electron decrease the fuel cell performance by increasing the activation overvoltage, or activation loss [2]. This problem can, however, be solved by raising the fuel-cell operating temperature [3], but only up to

In 2016, fossil fuel products (petroleum and gas) provided around 95 % of the energy for transportation in U.S. (IPCC, 2014). Since mobility has increased, the greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds have also increased due to the fossil fuel consumption. Other than the environmental concerns, fossil fuels are also considered to be limited. Because of all these problems, alternative and more sustainable solutions are being researched and developed

harmful gases that vehicles are giving off. Forget ethanol or biodiesel. The next big thing in automotive fuel may very well be hydrogen. Automakers rapidly are closing in on making hydrogen fuel cell vehicles an everyday fact of life, with several test models set to debut over the next few years. Hydrogen fuel cells to power vehicles are desirable, experts say, because hydrogen is a renewable fuel that can be used to create electricity to run cars. A chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen produces

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an upsurging technology in the field of bio-energy generation along with wastewater treatment. The microbial fuel cell generates energy with the help of microbes that makes it green future source of energy. In MFC, anaerobic microbes degrade organic matter and produce hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons (e-) at the anode. H+ ion diffuses through the proton exchange membrane (PEM); and e- are transported through an electrode via an external circuit to the cathode. At

As it can be seen from the above figure, the use of Fuel Cells results in the reduction of CO, SOx, NMHC, NOx and PM emissions by one to two orders of magnitude. There are almost zero PM emissions for natural gas fueled FC cars. Also, there is upto 60% reduction in CO2 emissions, which reduces the overall global warming co-efficient significantly. One more interesting conclusion is that most of the emissions in FC cars occur in natural gas extraction or methanol production stage and not during

Currently Cogen units are starting to be used more commercially, and fuel cells are even being used residentially. One example of this is when AG Construction Services recently completed the installation of multiple Cogen units in various locations, including the historic Lafayette hotel in San Diego, and at an independent living facility also in San Diego. Further, the company is in talks about an additional multi-unit installation starting in a phoenix, Arizona, apartment complex. I helped install

One of the biggest challenges facing the world today is the shortage of fossil fuels for energy production. Finding solutions to energy production that can be man made will benefit future generations and improve the quality of life in our country as well as the lives of those abroad. In America we use the greatest amount of energy per person of any country in the world. Even though we have tried to cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emmission since the 1990’s we have steadily increased