Posts Tagged ‘Water Vapor’

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Explained – Reasons For Its Rising Popularity

Saturday, May 30th, 2009
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 .



Hydrogen Powered Cars: The New Way To Go

Sunday, October 26th, 2008
hydrogen car
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.



Can You Make You Own Hydrogen Car?

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
hydrogen car
Arthur Maxwell


Can you make you own hydrogen car? Hydrogen cars are the answer that many hope will answer the growing fuel crisis in America. Most people think of hydrogen cars as being a really expensive new innovation that’s going to revolutionize the auto industry, but what most motorists need is a hydrogen generator, or an HHO. These are easy to build and install in your vehicle, thus allowing you to make you own hydrogen car. There are some hydrogen generator kits that are expensive, but you don’t need a particularly expensive kit to work with. Hydrogen generators offer a lot of benefit to your car’s performance and the surrounding environment.

HHO gets its name from the chemical compound for water, H2O. This is how a hydrogen generator really works. The kits use a process that was invented by a man called Yull Brown. The process, called electrolysis, works by using an electric current to split apart the molecules of water into their hydrogen and oxygen atoms to create the two individual gases. What happens next is that these gases are then sent through the air that’s already being pumped into your car’s engine through the air pump, adding to the fumes that are being burned in order to produce the heat needed to work the engine. In other words, if you switch partially to an HHO kit, you’re actually partially fuelling your car with water. Now, because of how much storage extra water tanks take, and how much weight it adds to the car’s total, you can’t switch completely to this method, but you can get a good boost in your performance and mileage – sometimes up to 50% in gas mileage. This means that you pay half as much at the pump, if that.

There are other benefits to using an HHO generator. For one, you can make your engine more efficient, because when you burn gasoline, residue builds up in the engine and causes it to become more inefficient over time. Water vapor leaves no such residue. Also, hydrogen and oxygen are two elements that naturally occur in the atmosphere, unlike carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which is what normal car exhaust is. Another benefit is that you may qualify for tax credits from the IRS. The government is currently encouraging green initiatives with fuel and other lifestyle elements, so they’re offering incentives such as tax credits to people who decide to pursue green options.

Anybody with a basic knowledge of cars and mechanical tools can build and install an HHO generator from a hydrogen generator kit. In fact, you can make your own, though it’s better to have one with a condenser. All you need is a container with distilled water, electrical wire, rubber hose and baking soda. These kits can be removed from your car just as easily as they’re added, with no danger to your warranty.

You too can make you own hydrogen car. Hydrogen generators have plenty of benefits to the environment, your car, and also your wallet, because you’re cutting down on both emissions and what you have to pay for at the pump. There are plenty of guides available online on how to build a hydrogen generator with the materials listed above, and they’re inexpensive to obtain.