Aren't you tired of the high price of gasoline for your car? Not to mention your concern for the environment. Well, a solution to both of these concerns may be just around the corner. For years, scientists have being working on an alternative energy source that promises to change the way we live by changing the source of fuel for some of our most basic energy-using engines. This new technology is called a fuel cell, and it's based on using water as the original source of the fuel! A fuel cell provides a DC (direct current) voltage that can be used to power motors, lights, or any number of electrical appliances--including cars.
The technical name for a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. You've actually been using one for many years, which is a battery. All batteries are electrochemical energy conversion devices.
But hydrogen fuel cell technology is a new twist on an old theme. Here's the basic idea of how it works:
A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity. The difference between a simple battery and a fuel cell is that all the chemicals are stored inside the battery. The battery converts those chemicals into electricity but eventually it "goes dead" as the chemicals are used up. So you end up either throwing it away or recharging it.
On the other hand with a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell. So as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, electricity flows out of the fuel cell. Simply put, a fuel cell releases electrons from the hydrogen gas, creating electricity with the waste product being pure water! The electricity is used to power an electrical device--like the electric motor to run your car.
In an internal combustion engine, the gasoline engine burns gas and the battery converts chemical energy back into electrical energy when needed. However, fuel cells should do both tasks more efficiently.
This reaction in a single fuel cell produces only about 0.7 volts. To get this voltage up to a reasonable level, many separate fuel cells must be combined to form a fuel-cell stack.
One problem with using hydrogen is that it is not easily stored for consumer use. Other alternatives could be natural gas, propane, and methanol gas. But the primary objective of using fuel cell technology is pollution reduction. The fuel cell is also very efficient. Around 80% of the fuel used in these hydrogen fuel cells is converted into usable energy compared to only 20% for a gasoline powered engine and about 30% overall for a battery powered electric vehicle.
There is no question that the fuel cell holds great promise for the future. However, many challenges remain, and it's been predicted that hydrogen fuel cell technology won't be available for the masses until around 2050.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Used
There are already several alternative sources of energy. One of these alternative sources was originally intended for space programs but now, some studies are already considering it for car use. Hydrogen fuel cells are indeed gaining much attention in today's times when there is a great need for another energy source.
The hydrogen fuel cells are just like traditional batteries. A chemical reaction produces electricity and electrical charge. However, there is still a difference. You see, with batteries, power is produced if the cell is continuously supplied with hydrogen. To understand how the fuel cells work, read on.
The cell's size and hydrogen flow determines the electricity produced. When a chemical reaction occurs between air and hydrogen, three things are produced namely ? heat, water, and electricity. Fuel cells lower heat output as compared to other sources of energy like the fossil fuels. But still, there are advantages in using hydrogen fuel cells.
One obvious advantage is that fuel cells are clean since the byproducts are heat and water. These byproducts can't harm the environment. Fuel cells have efficiency rates ranging from 45-53% as compared to gasoline with only 20% efficiency rate.
Whenever electricity is required, you can use fuel cells. The size of fuel cells is scalable. Fuel cells can therefore be created small to power an MP3 player or even large enough to give a town its needed electrical power. Aside from providing electrical power to certain things, it can also supply the needed rotary power by cars.
At present, car manufacturers worldwide are looking at hydrogen fuel cells are an alternative to the combustion engines. There are already pictures of hydrogen powered vehicles online; if you want, you can check them out if you have the time. If ever the hydrogen powered vehicles will become a reality in the near future, the dependency of many countries to petroleum will be reduced and not only that, pollution will be cut down.
Currently, fuel cells are installed in some neighborhoods and industrial buildings to provide electrical power. Within the next 50-100 years, hydrogen fuel cells will completely replace petroleum since they have broad social and commercial applications. Remote settlements can now depend on fuel cells for power. Portable devices can also be provided with renewable power through the fuel cells.
Countries from all over the world are looking for a clean and dependable energy source. With the continued support from the government and commercial establishments, the use of fuel cells will soon be a guaranteed success.
Hydrogen fuel cells are truly great but there's one consideration. In order to produce fuel cells, energy is needed and at present, fossil fuels serve as the source of energy. Scientists and experts are still conducting studies and researches to find other ways to produce fuel cells safely. At the moment, fossil fuels are being used to produce the hydrogen fuel cells but hopefully, new sources of energy will be discovered to further improve its production.
Now you know what hydrogen fuel cells are all about. The fuel cells are not mainly used for providing electricity because currently the automakers are trying to manufacturer cars that are fueled by hydrogen.
If you want to keep abreast with the developments of hydrogen fuel cells, log on to the internet and you will always be kept up to date. It is always good to be well-informed.
Both C. Brown & Austin Perry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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