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Harnessing Hydrogen for Power:
Hydrogen Cars
Marisa KatzHannah Lobingier
What exactly is a Hydrogen Car
In a hydrogen car, its primary source of power is from breaking down hydrogenThe use of hydrogen usually happens by two
methodsHydrogen can be burned much like the combustion
reaction that takes place in the gas powered cars seen today. This is called a internal hydrogen combustion engine
ORHydrogen can be set up to react with oxygen to
produce water and electricity. This is called a fuel cell.
Hydrogen Cars and Fuel Cells
Major car companies today are focusing on using fuel cells, instead of hydrogen internal combustion engines because it is thought that fuel cells will be more efficient and produce power in even cleaner ways. Instead of burning fuel in an engine, fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices. Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into water, and along the way produces electricity.
Ways of Getting Hydrogen Water is covalently bonded so energy is necessary to break
this molecule apart into hydrogen and oxygen Electrolysis (separating water by using electric currents)H2O + electricity → H2 + O2
ex.) battery, electrical outlet with a source of fossil fuels or renewable energy
Thermolysis (heat used to break up a substance)H2O + heat → H2 + O2
ex.) solar panelsOther molecules with hydrogen can be broken up into their
components with added energy Biological sourcesAlgae deprived of sulfur will produce hydrogen in a bioreactor HydrocarbonsHydrogen comes from crude oil
Fuel Cells: A Brief History In 1839 Sir
William Grove invented the first fuel cell called a gas voltaic battery
50 years later Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer coined the term “fuel cell”
Picture of Modern Day Fuel Cell
How Fuel Cells WorkFuel Cells are like batteriesThe type of fuel cell highlighted today
uses a constant flow of hydrogen to produce energyA reaction takes place between the
hydrogen and oxygen that converts the energy released into useable electrical energy
The most common fuel cell is one that runs off of proton exchangeThis exchange takes place in the Proton Exchange
Membrane, or PEM
The Functions of Fuel Cells
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/teachers/fuelcells.html#dl
How Energy is Made 1. Hydrogen gas is pumped
to the anode 2.The platinum anode acts
as a catalyst to a reaction that ionizes the gas The ionization reaction breaks
hydrogen atoms into hydrogen protons(+) and electrons(-)
3.Ions are attracted to the cathode but have two ways of getting to it
4.Protons pass through the membrane
5.Electrons are forced around the membrane thus releasing energy
Hydrogen to WaterIn the cathode O2 is ionized to O2-.In the anode H2 is ionized to 2H+ 2H+ + O2- = H2OWhen these elements combine
energy is given off in electron form and gives off power to run an engine and water is also produced
Fuel Cell: Energy and Clean Bi-Products
On the cathode side of the cell, oxygen is being fed where it is then converted to oxygen ions
When the hydrogen protons and electrons reach the cathode, new products are formed due to the bonding of the ions.The “waste products” are water and heat
AdvantagesZero emissions (pure water is produced)No dependence on foreign oilAbility to harvest solar and renewable
energyNot many moving parts in a vehicle (more
mileage before things start breaking) Hydrogen weighs less than gasoline
(vehicles would not need as much energy to move)
Price Tag: Drawbacks to Hydrogen Car
Hydrogen Supply At this time there are very few stations that supply
hydrogen cylinders to power a car Also, the price for hydrogen is comparable to gas;
however it takes two or three times as much to power a car.
As of now it is very expensive to equip a car with a hydrogen fuel cell.
Hydrogen is expensive to make, store, and transport
As of now, in a fuel cell the center is a platinum plate which is very expensive
Comparable Efficiencies Hydrogen Fuel cells at over 50%
efficiencyFossil fuel powered car at 10% - 20%
efficiencyHybrid powered cars have 30% - 35%
efficiencyEthanol is less efficient than fossil fuel
- ethanol gets 20% less mpg than fossil fuels
The Hydrogen Car Forefront
In 2003, President Bush instated a national program called the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative The goal is to “develop
hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies to make fuel-cell vehicles practical and cost-effective by 2020.”
The US has put over 1 billion dollars to date in hydrogen car research
Companies Getting Involved
Ford- P2000
Honda- FCX
BMW (within 2 years)- Hydrogen 7
Mazda- Wankel motor
General Motors- Sequel
California: Goes GreenCalifornia has around 13 pilot
stations and plans some 170 commercial ones by 2010. Arnold Swarchenegger has pledged to
turn one of his existing Hummers into a hydrogen powered car
Thank you
We would like to thank Dr. Skip Rochefort for being so generous with his time. The hydrogen car and fuel cell were both lent to us to better demonstrate the hydrogen car.
Resourceshttp://www.fi.edu/inquirer/hydrocar.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_veh
icle#Hydrogen_production_costhttp://planetforlife.com/h2/h2vehicle.htmlhttp://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/3
54/C6941/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4563676/http://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/photos.htmlhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-
cell.htmDr. Skip Rochefort