How Fuel Cells Work
Hydrogen Power:
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Alternative Energy
| Hydrogen highway hits roadblock By Paul Rogers Mercury News |
In 2003, President Bush announced a program called the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI)
during his State of the Union Address. This initiative, supported by legislation in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) and the Advanced Energy Initiative of 2006,
aims to develop hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies to make fuel-cell
vehicles practical and cost-effective by 2020. The United States has dedicated more than
one billion dollars to fuel cell research and development so far.
So what exactly is a fuel cell, anyway? Why are governments, private businesses and
academic institutions collaborating to develop and produce them? Fuel cells generate
electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. Unlike power sources that use
fossil fuels, the by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water. But how does
it do this?
If you want to be technical about it, 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.
The other electrochemical device that we are all familiar with is the battery. A battery has
all of its chemicals stored inside, and it converts those chemicals into electricity too. This
means that a battery eventually "goes dead" and you either throw it away or recharge it.
With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as
there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells
in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.
during his State of the Union Address. This initiative, supported by legislation in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) and the Advanced Energy Initiative of 2006,
aims to develop hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies to make fuel-cell
vehicles practical and cost-effective by 2020. The United States has dedicated more than
one billion dollars to fuel cell research and development so far.
So what exactly is a fuel cell, anyway? Why are governments, private businesses and
academic institutions collaborating to develop and produce them? Fuel cells generate
electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. Unlike power sources that use
fossil fuels, the by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water. But how does
it do this?
If you want to be technical about it, 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.
The other electrochemical device that we are all familiar with is the battery. A battery has
all of its chemicals stored inside, and it converts those chemicals into electricity too. This
means that a battery eventually "goes dead" and you either throw it away or recharge it.
With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as
there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells
in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.
Sir William Grove invented the first fuel cell in 1839. Grove knew that water could be split
into hydrogen and oxygen by sending an electric current through it (a process called
electrolysis). He hypothesized that by reversing the procedure you could produce
electricity and water. He created a primitive fuel cell and called it a gas voltaic battery.
After experimenting with his new invention, Grove proved his hypothesis. Fifty years
later, scientists Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer coined the term fuel cell while
attempting to build a practical model to produce electricity.
into hydrogen and oxygen by sending an electric current through it (a process called
electrolysis). He hypothesized that by reversing the procedure you could produce
electricity and water. He created a primitive fuel cell and called it a gas voltaic battery.
After experimenting with his new invention, Grove proved his hypothesis. Fifty years
later, scientists Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer coined the term fuel cell while
attempting to build a practical model to produce electricity.
The Invention of the Fuel Cell
| A fuel-cell stack that could power an automobile. |
The Planet is Covered with Water
April 25, 2008 GM says End of
Internal Combustion is near
The hydrogen car has been a
long time coming. GM is
betting $1 billion that the end
of internal combustion is near.
Internal Combustion is near
The hydrogen car has been a
long time coming. GM is
betting $1 billion that the end
of internal combustion is near.
April 22, 2008 BMW Hydrogen 7
The BMW Hydrogen 7 luxury
automobile is set to hit the
streets as a lease in April 2007
The BMW Hydrogen 7 luxury
automobile is set to hit the
streets as a lease in April 2007
Hydrogen Power
In the news
April 20, 2008 Hydrogen On
Demand Hydrogen on
demand systems within the
automotive industry may one
day rock the world.
Demand Hydrogen on
demand systems within the
automotive industry may one
day rock the world.
Copyright 2008 Harold R Muxlow