Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen Fuel Cell TechnologyTechnology

Trifid Nebula

Joe Lach

Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen Production

Recent worldwide production of hydrogen from different sources:

Source Amount Percent

(billions N cubic meters/year)

1. Natural gas 240 48

2. Oil 150 30

3. Coal 90 18

4. Electrolysis 20 4

Total 500 100 3.

Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen ProductionElectrolysis

8.

Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen Production

Indium-tin oxide = ITO (photon absorbent)

Solar Energy conversion

Hydrogen ProductionHydrogen ProductionProduction from Methane

This process is highly endothermic and will sometimes produce CO as a toxic byproduct. 2.

Summary of Fuel Cell Characteristics

Energy Used(MJ/MJproduct)

Efficiency per Stage (%)

GHG Emissions (gCeq/MJproduct)

Costs of fuel (US$(2001)/GJ)

Gasoline

Crude Oil 0.04 96.2 5.7

Refining 0.16 86.2 3

Distribution 0.01 99 1.4

Other (Methane Leakage) 0.7

Total 0.21 82.6 4.9 10

Diesel

Crude Oil 0.04 96.2 5.1

Refining 0.09 91.7 1.8

Distribution 0.01 99 1.2

Other (Methane Leakage) 0.5

Total 0.14 87.7 3.3 8.1

Hydrogen

Piped Natural Gas 0.13 88.4 12.6

Electricity Input 0.21 11 1.4

Production and Compression 0.43 69.9 23 10.3

Other (Methane Leakage) 2

Total 0.77 56.5 36 24.3

5.

Basic Outline of Hydrogen PowerBasic Outline of Hydrogen Power

Key feature: Electrolyte Membrane

1. Poly-perfluorosulphonic acid (PEM)

2. Potassium Hydroxide (AFC)

3. Molten Lithium Potassium (MCFC)

4. Sulfuric Acid (PAFC)

7.

““The Stack”The Stack”

80 Co

Normal Operating Conditions

3 barr

Platinum Anode and Cathode

PEM a.k.a. Proton Exchange Membrane9.

Fuel Cell Powered VehiclesFuel Cell Powered Vehicles

1.

Hindenburg Tanker Truck in Maryland

Raw Elemental Explosions

10.

ConclusionsConclusions

Right now Hydrogen is:Right now Hydrogen is:1.1. Financially costlyFinancially costly2.2. Within itself environmentally sound but a Within itself environmentally sound but a

danger to produce in large quantitiesdanger to produce in large quantities3.3. Difficult to produce without burning more Difficult to produce without burning more

fossil fuelsfossil fuels4.4. A good and efficient fuel for motor A good and efficient fuel for motor

vehicles and well as household power vehicles and well as household power needsneeds

5.5. Simply another biological process made Simply another biological process made to industrial scaleto industrial scale

Life cycle assessment of hydrogen fuel cell and gasoline vehicles  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 31, Issue 3, March 2006, Pages 337-352 Mikhail Granovskii, Ibrahim Dincer and Marc A Rosen

Hydrogen synthesis via combustion of fuel-rich natural gas/air mixtures at elevated pressure  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 30, Issue 8, July 2005, Pages 893-902 B. Lemke, C. Roodhouse, N. Glumac and H. Krier

www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_PEM.shtml

Production of hydrogen by thermal decomposition of methane in a fluidized-bed reactor—Effects of catalyst, temperature, and residence timeInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 31, Issue 4, March 2006, Pages 473-

484 Alan M. Dunker, Sudarshan Kumar and Patricia A. Mulawa

www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20051123-0...

A new approach to utilize Hydrogen as a safe fuel  International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 30, Issues 13-14, October-November 2005, Pages 1511-1514 H.K. Abdel-Aal, M. Sadik, M. Bassyouni and M. Shalabi

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www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/9-12/fc... www.benwiens.com/energy4.html

www.quantachrome.com/.../V6N1/V6N1S1.htm 6.

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Future fuel cell and internal combustion engine automobile technologies: A 25-year life cycle and fleet impact assessment Science Direct, Sept. 2004, Elsevier Ltd., A. Schafer, J.B. Heywood and M.A. Weiss

Works Cited