pb4ugo2bed
TRIBE Member
Since there has been a lot of talk about wind turbines at the CNE....I thought i'd stick in a thread about fuel cells. Hydrogenics will be showcasing their 50 kW fuel cell system at the Ex on Aug 27 ( http://www.hydrogenics.com/ir/NewsReleaseDetail-1.asp?RELEASEID=115925 ).
Fuel cells have been an attractive alternative due to its high efficiencies and low emissions. There are many different types of fuel cells but PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cells appear to be the front runner for vehicular, back up and micro applications.
How Do Fuel Cells Work??
A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process. It is very much like a battery that can be recharged while you are drawing power from it. Instead of recharging using electricity, however, a fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen.
At the Anode, hydrogen dissociates into protons and electrons by the following chemical reaction:
2H2 => 4H+ + 4e-
The protons, solvated in water, travels from the anode to the cathode through the membrane while the electrons travel through an external circuit, creating electricity, to the cathode.
At the cathode the returning protons and electrons combine with oxygen to form water and heat.
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- => 2H2O
Barriers to Commercialization
Cost: Currently fuel cells are not cost effective when compared to conventional forms of power generation. However, millions of dollars are invested into r&d to drive down the cost of materials.
Hydrogen Production: Although hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth, it is often combined with other elements and must be separated. (eg H20, natural gas, methanol, etc). The fuel processing system accounts for the majority of the total cost of a fuel cell system. Use of direct fuels, eg direct methanol fuel cells is a potential solution to this problem.
Infrastructure: Currently there isn't a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. However in Canada, a "Hydrogen Highway" is in the works in BC. Fuel stations are planned for roads stretching from the US/Canadian border to whistler. This is also in the works for eastern Canada from Windsor to Montreal (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...geid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1061244610519)
Fuel cells have been an attractive alternative due to its high efficiencies and low emissions. There are many different types of fuel cells but PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cells appear to be the front runner for vehicular, back up and micro applications.
How Do Fuel Cells Work??
A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process. It is very much like a battery that can be recharged while you are drawing power from it. Instead of recharging using electricity, however, a fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen.

At the Anode, hydrogen dissociates into protons and electrons by the following chemical reaction:
2H2 => 4H+ + 4e-
The protons, solvated in water, travels from the anode to the cathode through the membrane while the electrons travel through an external circuit, creating electricity, to the cathode.
At the cathode the returning protons and electrons combine with oxygen to form water and heat.
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- => 2H2O
Barriers to Commercialization
Cost: Currently fuel cells are not cost effective when compared to conventional forms of power generation. However, millions of dollars are invested into r&d to drive down the cost of materials.
Hydrogen Production: Although hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth, it is often combined with other elements and must be separated. (eg H20, natural gas, methanol, etc). The fuel processing system accounts for the majority of the total cost of a fuel cell system. Use of direct fuels, eg direct methanol fuel cells is a potential solution to this problem.
Infrastructure: Currently there isn't a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. However in Canada, a "Hydrogen Highway" is in the works in BC. Fuel stations are planned for roads stretching from the US/Canadian border to whistler. This is also in the works for eastern Canada from Windsor to Montreal (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...geid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1061244610519)