Hydrogen Fuel Cell

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• By Matthew Buza

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Time for a Change

• Whats wrong with what we have now?
• What are the alternatives?
• The benefits with developing Hydrogen Fuel Cells,
  and what good will it bring.
• What exactly is a hydrogen fuel cell.
• Breakdown of specific systems, the details behind
  the magic.
• What are the commercial applications of these
  systems.
• How they will work to help us in the future.

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When its your Time?

• We have come to the realization that oil and
  petroleum energy sources have to go, including
  coal.
• Problem is that the infrastructure is set for
  petroleum resources, and stubborn to change.
• Third world nations are nowhere near changing
  from the cheap and easy oil energy sources. Not
  in their interest.
• Money and time will be needed to change this,
  major effort must be taken by whole world.
• President Bush, call for alternative fuels and
  specifically fuel cells.

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Problems?

• Main problem is the pollution of greenhouse
  gases. Causing destruction to the o-zone.
• Problems with greenhouse effects and global
  warming. And rising sea levels.
• Human Health, with asthma, lung and repertory
  problems, possible connection with illness, and
  speculation of cancer.

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What alternatives do we have?

• Nuclear Power Most efficient, lots of energy,
  with little waste. Problem the waste is very
  dangerous, public fear.
• Solar Power Cheaper, good amounts of energy,
  long life, no waste. Problem Too big to be
  practical, too many for large scale use.
• Wind-Turbine Little to no danger with use, good
  amount of energy Problem Too many to be
  effective, unsightly, subject to weather.
• Fuel Cells Powerful, simple design, transferable
  (size), lots of power, waste is water, lots of
  development with government and NASA. Problem
  save transfer of hydrogen.

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Why Fuel Cells?

• Termed the Micro chip of the energy industry
• Reasonable to expect almost every power producing
  device in the world to be replaced by fuel cell
  devices in the next 50-80 years.
• Market potential is in the Trillions for such an
  endeavor.
• Two important Advantages of fuel cells is that
  they produce no pollution emissions or greenhouse
  gases, do not require supplies of foreign oil.
• Needs Hydrogen and Oxygen, and emits water.
• Biologically Friendly, Slow down the pollution,
  and begin to change the destruction.

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What is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

• A Fuel Cell is an Electrochemical device that
  produces electricity.
• Thats Right its a BATTERY!!!
• Unlike a battery the reaction is sustained as
  long as the cell is being supplied by fuel.
• The reaction happens at relatively low
  temperatures, and no combustion takes place in
  the fuel cell.
• In the Fuel cell the hydrogen is the primary
  fuel. When the hydrogen is introduced a chemical
  reaction between hydrogen and air produces
  electricity, pure water and some heat.
• The electricity is driven through a motor which
  powers your device. The electricity comes back to
  form the water with the H ions and the oxygen.

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Types of Fuel Cells

• Phosphoric Acid very popular in commercial use
  today
• Motlen Carbonate (MCFC) liquid solution of
  lithium, sodium, and/or potassium carbonates.
  Promise is high efficiency, but high temps.
• Alkaline Widely used in military and NASA. Every
  mission from Gemini to now, has this type of fuel
  cell on it ? for water/ electricity
• PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) Operates at low
  temperatures, and has a very high power density.
  Can vary power output quickly to meet power
  demands
• good for light duty vehicles, buildings, and
  possibly rechargeable batteries.
• Membrane is a thin plastic sheet that allows the
  H ions to flow through.
• Membrane is coated on both sides by dispersed
  metal alloy, (Platinum).
• Electrolyte is a solid organic polymer, helps
  with corrosion, and management problems.

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The Hydrogen Fuel Cycle
Anode H2(g) -gt 2H(aq) 2e- Cathode ½O2(g)
2H(aq) 2e- -gt H2O(l)
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What can it be used for?

• The Fuel Cell produces electricity directly from
  hydrogen fuel, it can be used for anything that
  uses power in the form of electricity, rotary
  power or heat.
• They can be made to be small enough to power a
  cellular phone or large enough to power a town.
  The benefit is that the design of the system does
  not change.
• Therefore the markets for fuel cells is virtually
  unlimited.

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Challenges ahead.

• The cost to make the systems, the cost of
  development and adaptation. The catalysts require
  expensive precious-metal catalysts, and others
  need to be resistant to very high temperatures.
• Durability and Dependability, the high
  temperatures cells are prone to breakdown, need
  efective water management systems to operate
  efficiently.
• Fuel Issues
• Production
• Delivery
• Storage
• Saftey
• Public Acceptance, and consumer embrace of the
  products.