Fuel Cells
Kendra Lena
FYSM Science and the Consumer
Dr. Moyer
What are fuel cells?
• Devices that generate electricity from chemical reactions
• The reactions take place between electrodes
• Catalyst
• Electrolyte
• 5 Types
• Alkali, Molten Carbonate (MCFC), Phosphoric Acid
(PAFC), Proton Exchanging Membrane (PEM), Solid Oxide
(SOFC)
How do they work?
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_PEM.shtml
Background Information
http://www.fuelcelltod
ay.com/about-fuelcells/history
Science and Technology
• Transportation Power
• Cars, vans, trucks, busses, trains, trams, ferries, small
boats, small aircraft
• Portable Power
• Military applications, small personal electronics, large
personal electronics
• Stationary Power
• Replace power grids
Advantages
• Higher efficiency
• Silently operate
• Less pollution
• Lessens dependency on foreign oil
• Hydrogen is accessible
• Military benefits
Advantages
• Longer operation time
• Easy maintenance
• No “memory effect” when getting fueled
Disadvantages
• Expensive
• Difficulty transporting hydrogen
• Large in size
• Lack of current infrastructure
Economics
• Fuel Cell Cost
Migration Path
• Currently more
than $4,000 per
kW
• Platinum
currently $44.34
per gram
Government
• Hydrogen Fuel Initiative
• 2003
• President Bush
• $1.2 Billion for research to develop clean, hydrogen
fueled automobiles
• Less dependency on foreign oil
• Attempt for large numbers of Americans to use
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020
Government
• Hydrogen Fuel Initiative
• "A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen
generates energy, which can be used to power a car
producing only water, not exhaust fumes. With a new
national commitment, our scientists and engineers will
overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to
showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today
could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. Join me in
this important innovation to make our air significantly
cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign
sources of energy.” - President Bush, State of the Union
Address, January 28, 2003.
Social
• Less dependence on oil
• Less pollution
• Less dependence on foreign countries
• Fuel Cell Vehicles for future
• Basis of future automobile constructional design
changes
Future
• Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)
• Pure hydrogen (liquid or gas)
• Fuel cell stack
• PEMFC current most studied fuel cell type
• Problems
• Complicated hydrogen storage (high costs, large volume)
• No transportation oriented distribution options
• Advantages
• High electric efficiency
• Zero emissions using hydrogen
• Mechanical simplicity (less noise, less maintenance)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fuelcell.shtml
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fuelcell.shtml
Future
• Honda FCX Clarity
•
•
•
•
Emits only water vapor
Propelled by electricity
Generated by hydrogen fuel
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
• BMW 7 Series Large Sedan
• Currently in trials of a new 6.0 Liter V12 gasoline
hydrogen powered model of the 7 series
Future
ftp://ftp.jrc.es/pub/EURdoc/eur20681en.pdf
FAQs
• How large would fuel cells be in homes?
• 5kW, size of a washing machine
• When will we see common usage of FCVs?
• Many manufacturers are set to commercially develop fuel cell
vehicles in 2015
• Who are the world leaders in fuel cell research?
• The US, Japan, and Germany are ahead in worldwide fuel cell
infrastructure and development
• What type of infrastructure is necessary for FCVs?
• California: 68 stations statewide needed for hydrogen refueling
Works Cited
•
http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/annual_progress12_fuelcells.html
•
http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/intro.htm
•
http://www.engsoc.org/~bbarnes/temp/societal_impacts_fuel_cell.pdf
•
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/fuel-cell-profile/
•
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_PEM.shtml
•
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/about-fuel-cells/history
•
http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/fuel_cells.html
•
http://www.nfcrc.uci.edu/2/FUEL_CELL_INFORMATION/FCexplained/challenges.aspx
•
http://www.nfcrc.uci.edu/2/FUEL_CELL_INFORMATION/FCexplained/migpath.aspx
•
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
•
http://www.green-technology.org/green_technology_magazine/index.php?cID=134
•
http://climate.nasa.gov/effects