3. A VERY BRIEF HISTORY
Considered a curiosity in the 1800’s. The first fuel cell was built in 1839
by Sir William Grove, a lawyer and gentleman scientist. Serious interest
in the fuel cell as a practical generator did not begin until the 1960's,
when the U.S. space program chose fuel cells over riskier nuclear
power and more expensive solar energy. Fuel cells furnished power for
the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft, and still provide electricity and water
for the space shuttle.
4. TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
The five most common types –
1. Alkali (70% efficient)
2. Molten carbonate (60-80% efficient)
3. Phosphoric acid (40-80% efficient)
4. Proton exchange membrane (40-50% efficient)
5. Solid oxide (60% efficient)
5. BENEFITS
Efficient: in theory and in practice
Portable: modular units
Reliable: few moving parts to wear out or break
Fuel Flexible: With a fuel reformer, fuels such as natural gas,
ethanol, methanol, propane, gasoline, diesel, landfill gas,waste
water, treatment digester gas, or even ammonia can be used
Environmental: produces heat and water (less than combustion
in both cases) near zero emission of CO and NOx
reduced emission of CO2 (zero emission if pure H2 fuel)
6. APPLICATIONS OF FUEL CELL
TECHNOLOGY
Cars
Buses
Space Travel & Exploration
Airplanes
Submarines
Off-grid Power Supply
Combined Heat & Power
8. A HYDROGEN VEHICLE IS A VEHICLE THAT USES HYDROGEN AS ITS ON BOARD
FUEL FOR MOTIVE POWER.
9. STORAGE & EFFICIENCY
Two storage options
1. Produce the hydrogen on the ground and then store it
onboard the vehicle (the direct hydrogen option)
2. Produce the hydrogen on the vehicle by means of a tiny
onboard hydrogen plant (the onboard fuel processor
option)
Hydrogen FC’s 2 times as efficient as internal combustion
Internal combustion efficiency – 20-30%
Hydrogen FC’s – 50-60%
Estimates that FC Vehicles can achieve equivalent of 80
miles/gallon gasoline.
10. HYDROGEN FUEL CELL VEHICLE ISSUES
Storage is complicated
Limited range
Expensive fuel
Still a fossil fuel?
Energy carrier, not energy source
12. ENVIRONMENT
Why we are pursuing Hydrogen FCVs(?)
produces heat and water (less than combustion in both cases)
nearzero emission of CO and Nox
reducedemission of CO2 (zero emission if pure H2 fuel)