Hydrogen Fuel Cell Essay

This source mainly concentrates on the use of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative to the United States dependency on foreign oil. It elaborates on the negatives of our countries reliance upon external sources for the vast majority of our power production needs, and suggests that hydrogen fuel cells are the answer to a sustainable energy future. The author is a writer for CQ Researcher who concentrates on energy, environmental, and defense issues. While the article is mainly geared toward individuals interested in the automotive industry and the applications of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles, it does an excellent job of contrasting oil based

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

Honda has already produced a hydrogen fuel cell concept car they claim is “overall 64% energy efficient”. To put this into perspective in the average gasoline combustion engine “only about 20 percent of the thermal-energy content of the gasoline is converted into mechanical work”, making it 20% energy efficient [5]. This new line of cars could bring about jobs in the automotive industry and all industries that branch from it. As of right now the commercial market for hydrogen gas produced from the use of fossil fuels is at about $100 billion. A majority of this hydrogen goes into producing fertilizers and petrochemicals [1]. All it would take is an inexpensive source of green hydrogen, such as the one recently discovered, to completely change this industry.Overall hydrogen has the ability to bring about jobs and continued advancements in every market and industry touched by it. This could be just about every industry when considering how important transportation and shipping are to the economy; hydrogen would give them an inexpensive fuel for transport. Hydrogen fuel could do this all the while solving our most important problem of finding a renewable energy source.

The element in fuel cells is hydrogen. Chemical reactions between the electrodes and the electrolyte generate electricity.

Solar Hydrogen economy is analyzed as a possible solution to the looming energy crisis. The present and future energy needs are projected and solar hydrogen potential to meet these needs are evaluated. Different solar hydrogen production techniques are classified according to the process involved (thermochemical, electrochemical and photochemical). Salient points on these methods are mentioned. An economic assessment of a conceivable solar hydrogen economy is also performed. PV water electrolysis along with hybrid technologies like solar methane reforming and solar cracking are suggested as a good short to midterm solution.

The fuel cell electrode is thin, catalyst layer where electrochemical reaction is taking place. The electrodes is usually made up of carbon supported platinum and ionomer. The catalyst particles have to be in touch with protonic

On the contrary, fuel cell vehicles are more radical innovation since it requires significant changes in the body of the vehicle, building an entirely new fuel infrastructure and changes in consumer behavior. Moreover, it will radically affect petroleum companies and change the industry standards, at the same time providing new opportunities for battery makers.

Main role of an Anion ion membrane is to conduct hydroxyl ions at very high rates from the cathode to the anode where reduction and oxidation of O2 and H2 occur. The AEM and its integration with the electrodes form the heart of the alkaline fuel cell. If the transport through the AEM is not sufficiently high and highly selective, the corresponding fuel cell will not find any practical application.

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.

Imagine a world where nobody can use their iPhone, their computer, or even turn on the lights. That is the kind of world the future may be like if there is not an overhaul of how electricity is obtained. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, people have utilized fossil fuels to power their homes, cars, and businesses. Unfortunately, our stores of fossil fuels are running low, and they have been demonstrated to increase the temperature in the atmosphere and accelerate global warming. As gas prices steadily rise, people need a newer, cleaner source of energy. The alternatives are numerous and would be beneficial to the well being of the whole world. The human race must replace its fossil fuel use with renewable resources in order to

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 a unit at the historic Lafayette Hotel in San Diego after uninstalling their previous green energy source. The previous source of green energy was eight hydrogen fuel cells, which also used natural gas as a fuel source. They worked in a similar

Now when most people think of converting water into energy, they usually think of water powered cars. Even though this is not entirely what electrolysis does, it isnt too far off. Fuel cell technology, even though it is still being developed, works with electrolysis to make this possible. An obstacle with making fuel cell technology possible is

The contemporary industrial sector has been built on the capacity created by energy. The bulk of human activities from survival to economy rely on the use of energy. Indeed, widespread access to energy has a significant influence on the level of achievement a particular jurisdiction achieves (Johnstone, Mayo and Khare 572). Access to energy sources determines the quality and course of life undertaken by the residents of a specific region. Numerous factors interact to determine the supply of energy. Among them include the cost, quantities available and the extent of availability. The fact that fossil fuel is the primary source of energy means that distribution is uneven. It should be noted that oil, coal, and natural gas account for three-quarters of the global energy consumption. Indeed, it is estimated that traditional forms of energy such as wood and animal dung form the primary source of energy for close to two billion people across the globe. The realities raised by the use of fossil fuels create an incentive to explore alternative forms of energy sources. The use of hydrogen as an alternative source of energy provides several new advantages to the world in terms of abundance, pollution, and its future importance to the business world along with everyday use to the people.

The electrolysis process is pretty valuable since it involves high energy consumption. The energy used to generate a current in the electrolysis process is pretty valuable since it involves high energy consumption. The energy is also limited from fossil fuels like oil, natural gas or coal. The electrical charge that is tested to water will shatter the chemical bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms. As a result, it will produce charged particles called ions. The ions must be free to proceed in order for electrolysis to work.

Index terms: Introduction, working, why only Hydrogen element, comparison with Batteries, cost analysis, advantages and disadvantages, applications, problems faced in Hydrofuel cells, conclusion.