Alternative Energy Sources

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Alternative Energy Sources
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

• A device that combines Hydrogen and oxygen are to
  produce electricity. The electricity is used to
  power the vehicles electric motors.

Video
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Fuel Cell

• A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy
  conversion device.
• A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and
  oxygen into water, and in the process it produces
  electricity.

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How a Fuel Cell works
Hydrogen
Electrons
Carbon Plate (Anode)
Catalyst Layer
Matrix (Electrolyte)
Catalyst Layer
Carbon Plate (Cathode)
Oxygen
Water
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Output per Cell

• This reaction in a single fuel cell produces only
  about 0.7 volts.
• To get this voltage up to a reasonable level,
  many separate fuel cells must be combined to form
  a fuel-cell stack.

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What is holding back Fuel Cells?

• Hydrogen is difficult substance to produce, store
  and distribute
• To over come this problem, fuel cells convert
  readily available fuels into Hydrogen. This
  process is preformed by a device called a
  reformer.

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Facts

• One gallon of gasoline burned in an internal
  combustion engine releases twenty pounds of
  carbon dioxide
• Fuel cells in vehicles can operate with
  efficiencies of 40-80 compared with 18 for
  "state-of-the-art" spark ignition engines
• The first "commercial" use of fuel cells was by
  NASA in the 1960s
• Companies are hoping to produce their first
  commercial models of fuel cell cars from
  2003-2005

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Fords Focus Package
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Honda
FCXV3
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BMW
5 Series
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Ford
Converted Econo-line
Focus
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Toyota
FCHV
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Volkswagen
Hymotion
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What is a Reformer

• A reformer converts alcohol fuels into hydrogen.
• Unfortunately, reformers are not very efficient.
• They generate heat and produce hydrogen and other
  unwanted gasses

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Reference

• Heating with Wood, DOE, 2000
• U.S. Dept. Of Energy, 2000
• www.iowastateuniv.edu
• The Value of the Benefits of US Biomass Power,
  1999