Hydrogen Power Blog

Abhishek Agarwal


A lot of talk has been going around in this country about use of alternative fuels and particularly a lot has been said about the hydrogen fuel that runs on hydrogen fuel cells. But do we have a clear understanding of how the hydrogen fuel cell works? Definition can be made very simple or on other hand it can be explained in a very complicated terminology .In the cell the conversion of chemicals namely oxygen and hydrogen into water happens in the fuel cell and in this process electricity is produced. A battery is a similar device that works on the electrochemical principle. A battery stores all its chemical inside its compartment and conversion of these chemicals happens inside resulting in the production of electricity. After the chemical inside finishes the battery stops producing electricity and is considered “dead”. Eventually it is either thrown or recharged.

Fuel Cell: Does it “die”

Unlike the battery, in case of fuel cell the cell never dies – as long as the flow of chemical is maintained in the cell, the fuel cell continues producing electricity .Oxygen and hydrogen are the most commonly used chemicals in the fuel cell. The end product of hydrogen fuel cell is water vapor and that is a big advantage. There are many types of fuel cell which has been produced; main among them is the polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The department of energy is concentration on this type as it has the potential of being used for vehicle applications

The positive thing about PEMFC is that it has a high power density with relatively lower operating temperature (ranging from sixty to eighty degrees Celsius or 140-176 degrees Fahrenheit) .Due to its low operating temperature it doesn’t take much time for the fuel cell to warm up and start producing electricity. That is big plus point for PEMFC.

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is another promising prospect that can be used for powering the vehicles. This is another type of fuel cell that has similar feature with regard to operating temperature. But they are relatively less efficient and are more expensive. This is due to the fact that DMFC requires a good quantity of platinum to act as a catalyst

Hydrogen Fuel Cell: An Emerging Technology

Hydrogen fuel is the new generation of alternative energy. This is due to the fact that hydrogen fuel cell burns cleanly and also runs efficiently .Thus the dreams and hopes of supporters of alternative fuel energy seems to be coming alive They can see a clean and an efficient vehicle that runs fantastic and has very low and safe emission .

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!

Roger Vanderlely


The capacity to mass produce hydrogen powered vehicles and the fuel required to run them has been available for many years, yet industry experts still estimate that the technology is 10 to 20 years away from being a mainstream fuel supply.  This is not due to a lack of experience by manufacturers in the production of Hydrogen fuel cells, or vehicles that run on them.

The first Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle was built in the 1960s by General Motors in the United States.  Hydrogen fuel cells were also used in space by NASA in the 1960s.  Given the impressive pedigree and early development of this fuel, why is it not yet a commercial reality?

The facts are that Hydrogen is a very dangerous substance, and these dangers are present not just at the consumer end but all the way through production, transportation and storage.  A tank of pressurized Hydrogen in many ways the same as a time bomb.  Any damage to the structure of the vessel containing the Hydrogen could result in a powerful explosion, even from relatively small tanks like those that would be fitted to automobiles.

There is also the issue of using electricity to produce Hydrogen in the first place.  This itself is quite energy intensive and involves losses of energy at each stage of transformation from one form to another, such as when electrical energy is converted into chemical energy to form the Hydrogen molecules.  Even if this electricity was generated from clean sources such as solar panels, it could be used directly to charge batteries or supply a grid with greater efficiency than for producing Hydrogen.

So what is the future of the fuel cell?  Fuel cells do not have to run only on Hydrogen.  They can be run on many different fuels, including methanol and ethanol.  Both these substances can be produced at a far lower electricity cost than Hydrogen.  These fuels do produce Carbon Dioxide emissions however, though these could be neutralized by use of biofuel crops to produce the fuel in the first place.

Unless we are able to produce virtually limitless amounts of energy the Hydrogen economy is unlikely to emerge.  Our time would be better spent discussing the serious development of the Ethanol economy.  This technology is proven, safe and far cheaper than its Hydrogen counterpart and can be easily mated with current battery powered electrical systems.

Roger Vanderlely

For more information on biofuels, carbon reduction, energy saving ideas, kids activities and solar power facts, visit my website, http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com.

Ben Franklin


With the ever-rising price of fossil fuels, it’s no wonder alternative sources of transportation, such as the hydrogen powered car are getting new look. Cars that run off hydrogen, rather than gasoline, are cleaner for the environment, don’t deplete a precious resource and they are not a far off invention.

The hydrogen car’s potential implications for the environment, economy and even politics make it an interesting idea. These cars just might be the answer to getting around without wasting a precious, limited resource. And, they just might help stave off environmental issues as well. But, what are hydrogen cars and how do they work?

A hydrogen car is simply one that relies on hydrogen rather than gasoline for power. There are two basic types: combustion and fuel-cell conversion. Both are currently in existence, but neither have been moved into full-scale production for a number of reasons.

The combustion engine is similar to what is used in most automobiles now. It simply burns fuel to create power. Combustion engines already in existence can be modified for hydrogen burning.

Fuel-cell conversion, on the other hand, uses the hydrogen and turns it into electricity. This electricity provides the power for the engine’s electric motor.

No matter the process, though, the byproduct of combustion or fuel-cell conversion is simply water. Rather than ozone depleting fuel, what’s left behind is nothing more than good, old fashion H2O.

Adding to its environmental friendly stance, hydrogen is more or less a renewable source. It comes from the decomposition of methane or can be gleaned from water. Inasmuch, its only byproduct is water vapor. And, unlike fossil fuels it is fully renewable.

Despite its potential, hydrogen cars have not been moved into full-scale production for a number of reasons. The world’s dependence on oil is a strong one and it will be hard to break. Entire economies depend on its production, processing and sale, so making the switch to hydrogen will be difficult at best.

In addition to a resistance from oil producers, auto manufacturers, too, must get on the bandwagon before this will become a reality. They are, however, beginning more and more to research and develop cars that run on hydrogen. The engines involved in modern cars can in fact be converted to burn hydrogen.

One of the biggest problems with switching to all hydrogen is a problem with storage. Car fuel tanks need to be better developed for this as would “hydrogen stations” where drivers can refuel. In addition, more study needs to be done to increase the miles per gallon hydrogen vehicles can muster.

Although much work still needs to be done to replace gasoline-based cars with hydrogen models, the idea is more than feasible. In fact, with gas prices soaring, it’s looking more and more like a real possibility these cars will someday rule the roads. Already there are cars, buses, trucks and even rockets that use hydrogen for their power to some extent.

Peter Johnson


Everybody has heard of hydrogen fueled cars. The price of gasoline keeps getting higher these days and most believe that the days of cheap gasoline are dead and gone. Everybody is looking for a viable alternative and hydrogen seems like it may be the most logical choice. Since about 70% of the planet is covered in ocean, it looks like we have enough hydrogen to go around.

You probably first think of hydrogen cell vehicles when you think of hydrogen fueled cars, but actually hydrogen cell technology is still far from perfected and not available on the market as of yet. Sure, the ads are on TV and you may have even seen a hydrogen cell car on the road, but these are not yet available to the general public and even if they were they would not be anywhere near affordable. In the meantime, there is an old patent that has recently been dug up that may give you a short cut to saving money on gas.

The hydrogen car kit is an old patent that actually turns your car into a water hybrid. All you need to do is add a few small components (essentially, some baking soda, electrical wiring, a fuse, a vacuum hose, and a sealed, quart-sized glass jar) to your vehicle to enable it to run on both gasoline and water and possibly even double your gas mileage. Here’s how it works: first, you build a device that you can put together with items you can buy at a local hardware store and add water. Then, you attach this device to your cars battery and engine. The device uses a little bit of energy from your battery to transform the water inside the device into a gas called ‘HHO’ which is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. This gas, also known as Water-Fuel, Brown’s Gas, or Hydroxy, provides a lot of power, burns clean, and it’s only byproduct is water.

The easiest way to figure out how to convert your car yourself is look online. A quick search will turn up dozens of websites that can show you how to convert your car. Though there are a few that want to charge you extravagant amounts for the information, you can get just as good information for much cheaper and the parts you need to pick up at a hardware store will only cost you about $20. Some mechanics out there know how to convert cars into hydrogen fueled cars, but they’ll probably charge you about $300 or more to do it and it’s also very hard to find a mechanic that knows how to do the conversion.

Conclusion

Who isn’t interested in saving money on gas? The increase in the cost of fuel affects every facet of the economy and we’re all feeling the pinch from every angle. By converting your car, you’re steering yourself in the right direction towards the future. Hydrogen fueled cars are a great way to save money and help preserve the environment in one fell swoop.

Peter Johnson


By now you’ve no doubt heard of hydrogen cell technology and if you’re really ahead of the curve, you’ve heard of the hydrogen car kit. Even if you have heard of this kit, you may still be wondering exactly what it is. Hopefully we’ll be able to answer all of your questions.

Hydrogen Cell Technology?

First you have to understand that although hydrogen cell technology and the hydrogen car kit are similar in some ways, they are in fact two very different mechanisms. Hydrogen cell technology uses pure hydrogen as a substitute, whereas hydrogen car kits use a gasoline/water combination to essentially turn your vehicle into a water hybrid. Hydrogen cell technology is still a long way off from being perfected and viable, whereas conversion kits are available for use right now.

But how are you supposed to run your car on water? The answer is fairly simple. Without getting into too much chemistry, all you have to do is download the instructions on how to build the conversion device, hook it up, and go. You can find directions on how to assemble your conversion device on select websites across the web – make sure you choose a site with a decent reputation and proof of quality of the information.

How To Do It

Once you have the instructions, buy the parts it suggests. Usually, you can get all the stuff you need at your local hardware store for about $20. These parts basically consist of a quart-sized glass jar, some electrical wiring, baking soda, a fuse, and a vacuum hose. Following the directions you have downloaded, assemble the device and fill it with water. Next, you hook up one end of the device to your battery and the other end attaches to your engine’s intake manifold. When you start your vehicle, the electrodes within the device will use a small amount of energy from your battery to transform the water within from H2O to HHO, which is one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen. HHO, commonly known as Brown’s Gas, and less commonly Hydroxy or Water-Fuel, is a clean burning gas with no byproducts (besides water) that provides a great deal of energy. The addition of a hydrogen car kit has been known to double gas mileage in some cases.

Conclusion

These days, everybody is feeling the pinch of high gas prices and we’re all looking for a way to save money. Some people just aren’t driving as much and some have even gotten rid of their car altogether. There’s no reason to take such drastic measures when you can easily solve your problem by turning your vehicle into a water hybrid. Even if you’re just a little handy you can assemble and install one of these kits. If it seems too far over your head, you may even be able to find a mechanic to do it for you – most charge about $300 for the service. The addition of a hydrogen car kit can save you a lot of money and help the environment.

Jack Stone asked:


The round trip is a net loss isn’t it? We use electricity to convert H2O into H and O.

Then in a hydrogen fuel cell car, we RE-convert the H and O back into H2O again.

So it is a round trip.

But since every mechanical device LOSES energy through friction and heat and waste, the round trip from H2O to H & O and back to H2O LOSES energy.

Isn’t this right? So how will a hydrogen economy run the country or replace oil-burning cars?

josh k asked:


When it comes down to it, which would have a better market and wider consumer base. I was thinking along the lines of Hydrogen fuel-cell refueling station or solar panel installation business. There are strides being taken in hydrogen automobiles and also in solar technology and cost. So which is a better idea? Thanks for your help.