a concept model for using soap solution as a source of hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles, its design and working

2. PRESENTED BY:
SREERAG A S
CEANEEME121
S8 ME2
GUIDED BY:
MOHAMMED SWALIH N U
ASSISTANT PROFESSIOR
DEPT. OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
MEA ENGINEERING COLLEGE, PERINTHALMANNA

3.  Most of the automobiles uses fossil fuels
 IC engines releases CO, nitrogen oxides, CO2
 Air pollution, acid rain, greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion
 To overcome these problems, eco friendly, unlimited, cheap and efficient
fuels needed
 Battery power, solar power, 100-135 miles range, then switching to pure
hydrogen producing only heat and water
 Hydrogen used directly in IC engines, or in fuel cells giving Zero Emission
Vehicles (Z.E.V)- 3 times more efficient than IC engines

4.  Emission free, no pollutants, by products are heat and pure water vapour
 Eco friendly, but costly to implement
 Main forms of stored hydrogen are
 Liquefied hydrogen (stored on-board at -253 degree Celsius)
 Compressed hydrogen (stored at 10,000 psi)
 Methanol
 Gasoline reformation
 Metal hydride
As the hydrogen fuel always been ‘A future fuel’, Daimler Chrysler
came up with an innovative idea- SOAP to fuel the future automobiles

5.  Storing hydrogen as Sodium Borohydride(NaBH4) - non toxic solution
 Hydrogen stored in a mixture of 75% water and 25% glorified soap powder
(borate - used as laundry detergent)
 The cell runs on hydrogen taken from the Sodium Borohydride leaving borax soap
in the tank. Only emission is steam from the tail pipe.
 NaBH4 is a compound of Sodium, Boron, Hydrogen, used in paper and pulp
industries(as a bleach), waste water processing and pharmaceutical synthesis
 NaBH4 is evolved from Sodium borate(NaBO2 ) - chemically equivalent to borax
used as laundry detergent ingredient.
 NaBO2 is not consumed, only acts as a carrier of hydrogen.
 Completely safe because hydrogen is produced only when needed.

6. The hydrogen generation reaction is as shown below:
NaBH4 + 2 H2O ruthenium 4 H2 + NaBO2
Sodium Borohydride Hydrogen gas Sodium Metaborate
 Exothermic reaction, heat used to vaporize water and 100% relative humidity
 Moisture benefits , Sodium Metaborate is water soluble, eco friendly.
 Boron hydrides store more energy than hydrocarbons.

7. Gravimetric storage density % H2 by weight
Solid NaBH4 10.6 %
NaBH4-20 solution
(20 wt% NaBH4, 3 wt% NaOH, 77 wt% H2O)
4.4 %
NaBH4-25 solution
(25 wt% NaBH4, 3 wt% NaOH, 72 wt% H2O)
5.5 %
NaBH4-30 solution
(30 wt% NaBH4, 3 wt% NaOH, 67 wt% H2O)
6.6 %
NaBH4-35 solution
(35 wt% NaBH4, 3 wt% NaOH, 62 wt% H2O)
7.7 %
Hydrogen on Demand Technical Specifications

8. 1 kg of hydrogen = 1000 g of hydrogen = 113,500 BTU energy = 33.26 kWh
= 119600 kJ
1 kg of solid NaBH4 reacted with 950 g of water yields 213.5 g of hydrogen gas,
Or 24230 BTU = 7.100 kWh = 25560 kJ
1 gallon of NaBH4-30 = 1.16 kg solid NaBH4 = 28100 BTU = 8.24 kWh = 29600 kJ
1 gallon of gasoline = 115,000 BTU energy = 33.70 kWh = 121300 kJ
1 kg of Hydrogen ~ 1 gallon of gasoline

9. The Natrium minivan
 The Natrium was unveiled at EVAA annual convention on December 12, 2001 in
Sacramento, CA and at North American International Auto Show, Detroit, in
January 2002.
 The tanks, catalyst, fuel cell and motor do not encroach in any way on the
passenger or luggage space.
 weighing 4 tons, 53-gallon tank, 300 miles (500 km), 50 percent further than
typical fuel cell cars

10.  The Natrium’s fuel cell system is produced by DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell partner,
Ballard/XCELLSiS (Ballard Power Systems) of Vancouver, Canada. The hydrogen
is produced using the “Hydrogen on Demand” system developed by Millennium
Cell, Inc., of Eatontown, New Jersey.

11. Chrysler Town & Country Natrium Preliminary Specifications
Vehicle : Chrysler Town & Country minivan
Powertrain : Front-wheel drive regenerative braking
Motor : 35 kW Siemens AC motor
Battery Pack : 40 kW SAFT Li-Ion
Fuel : Sodium boro-hydride, recyclable
Fuel Processor : Hydrogen on Demand system Millennium Cell, Inc.
Fuel Cell System : Ballard/XCELLSiS
Fuel economy : 30 mpg gasoline equivalent
0-60 mph : 16 seconds (i.e. 0 – 100 km/h in 16 sec.)
Top speed : 80 mph (129 km/h)
Range : 300 miles
Emissions : Zero emissions

12.  Millennium cells developed
 Generates hydrogen from aqueous solution of Sodium Borohydride
 Energy potential is carried in the chemical bonds of NaBH4
 No heat input
 The by product Sodium metaborate can be recycled as the starting material of
sodium borohydride.

13. 
 Pure, humidified hydrogen source is obtainable
 High energy storage density
 Storable in plastic containers at room temperature and without
pressurization
 Environmentally benign, non-flammable, non-explosive fuel
and by-product
 Widely variable hydrogen output flow rate and delivery
pressure
 Low cost, simple hydrogen generation mechanism

15.  The sodiumborohydride fuel can be recycled, low emission
 Vehicle has a fully usable trunk.
 The borax is available in abundance in natural reserves (600 million metric tons).
 Capable of producing 110-240 volt electricity. The car's fuel cell could plug into the house
to provide home electricity.
 Nonflammable, greatly improving safety in battle zones.
 Safe, reliable generators for back-up power.
 Fuel cells could be used to energize laptop computers and mobile phones for weeks
without recharging.
 Sodium borohydride produces the same amount of energy per gallon of fuel as gasoline
produces. And 50 percent further than typical fuel cell.
 The main advantage offered is ‘Zero dependency on oil for propulsion’.
 In an accident there is nothing to burn. The sodium borohydride solution is inert
 The hydrogen is produced by the system only when required. In the case of a collision, the
small amount of hydrogen in the system would diffuse harmlessly into the atmosphere,
thus leaving no casualties.

16.  Millennium's ‘Hydrogen on Demand’ isn't a clear-cut winner.
 Primary hydrogen needed to generated costly.
 No corner hydrogen stations are placed yet widely.
 As the reaction is exothermic and spontaneous, it has to be controlled.
 Currently, sodium hydroxide is added to the fuel for stabilization, but this substance has
the disadvantage of being highly alkaline.
 Millennium's proprietary catalyst is composed in part of a very rare — and expensive —
earth metal called ruthenium. Efforts are being made to redesign the system to use a high-
temperature cobalt catalyst.
 warm-up takes around two minutes. Anything longer than 20 seconds is unacceptable to
the general public.

17.  This technology is a promising alternative using environmentally friendly fuels.
 Solves the problems regarding the use and storage of the ‘hydrogen’ fuel.
 Low emissions, zero carbon, harnessing of renewable energy sources, high level of safety,
and independence from oil imports.
 The technical challenges have largely been overcome.
 Sodium borohydride will find it tough be a viable alternative because of its cost.
 Sold only to commercial customers who can provide their own refueling infrastructure.
 Mass production of sodium borohydride has to take place.
 Fuel cells are expensive ($600,000 -$750,000).
 The technical challenges involved with this drive system have been overcome to a great
extent.
 It may well be that more than just one type of fuel system will be used.

18. Reference Books:
1. Alternative cars in the 21st century
2. Hydrogen and its future as a Transportation Fuel – Daniel J. Holt
Technical Papers:
1. SUV Powered by on board Generated Hydrogen (2000-01-1541) - Steven C. Almendola,
Philip J. Petillo & others, Millennium cell, Inc.
2. A Sodium Borohydride On-board Hydrogen Generator for Powering Fuel Cell and
Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (2001-01-2529) - Richard M. Mohring and Rex E.
Luzades, Millennium Cell, Inc.
Websites:
www.media.daimlerchrysler.com
www.millenniumcell.com
www.usborax.com
www.greenwave.com
www.fuelcells.org