Hydrogen Power Blog

Nick Tart


Whenever you hear a conversation or read an article about hydrogen fuel cells, you tend not to listen because you do not want your mind to be boggled. But the truth is, hydrogen fuel cells are a lot simpler than most other technology.

 

Simply put, a fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through chemical reactions. In a hydrogen fuel cell, the primary reactant is, obviously, hydrogen. As hydrogen is being pumped into the fuel cells, an electrode strips the atom of its electrons and the hydrogen becomes ionized. The stripped electrons then create an electrical current. At the same time, oxygen filters into the fuel cell. Combining with the hydrogen, the two create a chemical reaction which in turn forms water.

 

The greatest appeal of hydrogen fuel cells i that they generate electricity while causing esentially no pollution. So why not generate all electricity through hydrogen fuel cells? There are two main reasons.

 



One fuel cell does not generate very much electricity. In order for fuel cells to be useful there must be several of them working together to generate a significant amount of energy. Typically hydrogen fuel cells are assembled into a stack.

Fuel cells are relatively expensive. Compared to other sources of producing energy, fuel cells are financially impractical. Costing about $1000 per kilowatt of electric power output, not many businesses can justify using this technology.



 

However, scientists are continually working on ways to improve the efficiencies and lessen the costs associated with hydrogen fuel cells. If they are successful, hydrogen fuel cell technology will undoubtedly be the primary energy source throughout the world!

Levi Quinn


Hydrogen is the simplest element on earth. Each small particle of an element of hydrogen has merely a single proton. It is a chief abundant gas in the world. Stars mainly consist of hydrogen. Basically, the sun is a massive sphere of helium and hydrogen gases. In the core of the sun, the atoms of hydrogen mingle to generate helium atoms. This gives off bright energy termed as ‘fusion’. The energy in turn maintains several lives on earth. It aids in cultivation of plants and provides people with light. It also facilitates rain and the blowing of wind. Hydrogen is stored in chemical energy form in the fossil types of fuels. The majority of energy used presently by people originated from the radiant energy of the sun.

A hydrogen car is a car that utilizes hydrogen as its fuel for the motive power. The terminology might refer to an individual car exclusively for transport purpose. These include automobiles and any the other cars that utilize hydrogen the same way like aircrafts. Power plants of these vehicles alter hydrogen chemical energy to mechanical energy. The methods used in the alteration process are; fuel-cell combustion and hydrogen internal combustion. In fuel-cell combustion, oxygen is combined with hydrogen to create electricity and water. The electricity is in turn used in powering electric traction motors. In the process involving combustion of hydrogen, the hydrogen is ignited in the engines basically using the same technique as the convectional ignition engine cars.

Presently, 9,000,000 metric tonnes of the hydrogen are manufactured in America. This is an adequate amount to power 30,000,000 vehicles and 8,000,000 homes. Most of the hydrogen is produced in only three states, namely: Louisiana, Texas and California. The produced hydrogen is utilized by the industry in treating metals, processing foods and refining. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been the main user of hydrogen in place of energy fuel. Presently, there are 500 cars in America fueled by hydrogen, especially in California. Most cars include automobiles and buses, which are powered by the electric motors. They are able to store liquid and even hydrogen gas on board and change hydrogen to electricity specifically for vehicles using fuel cells. However, only limited car types burn hydrogen directly, generating very little pollution. Owing to the outlay of producing the fuel cells, current fuel cost for the cell cars significantly go beyond that of the conventional cars in most countries. This has made the hydrogen cars move to the roads from the laboratory.

Hydrogen has huge potential as the environmentally hygienic fuel plus means of reducing dependence on energy sources that are imported. Before performing a superior energy responsibility and grow to be an extensively used substitute of gasoline, a number of upcoming systems and facilities should be built. Manufacturers will require facilities for making hydrogen, storing it, and transporting it. They will also require inexpensive fuel cells. Users will in turn require the necessary expertise, education and information so as to use it safely.