fuel cells with standards

8/10/2019 Fuel Cells With Standards

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Electrolysis and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Car

Permission to Copy - This document may be reproduced for non-commercial educational purposes

Copyright 2009 General Electric Company


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Definitions we need to know:

Hydrogen simplest and lightest element in the periodic table (#1); it exists as a colorless odorless gasnaturally; an atom of hydrogen consists of only one electron and one proton; it is the most abundantelement in the universe but does not exist buy itself in nature only in chemical compounds like water

Electrolysis the use of electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen

Water H2O; two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen; poor conductor

Electrode electrical conductor

Cathode negative terminal of electrolytic cell

Anode positive terminal of electrolytic cell

Electrolytic cell negatively charged electrons from power source pass through water from cathode to

positively charged anode; in order for current to flow water near the cathode decompose into negativelycharged hydroxide (OH-) and positively charged hydrogen (H+); the hydrogen atom picks up an electronfrom the cathode due to the opposite charges and becomes neutral; when two neutral hydrogen atomscombine a hydrogen gas is formed as is evident by bubbling near cathode; negatively charged hydroxideions are attracted to the positively charged anode and gives up its electron to the anode leaving a neutralOH that can bond to two other neutral OH to form an oxygen gas molecule and two water molecules

+

++

+

++

eOHOOH

OHHOH

HOOHyelectricit

424

22

22

2

222

Fuel Cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity; opposite of our electrolysis experiment

PEM Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

How does a PEM work?

Hydrogen is fed into the anode where a catalyst (like the salt in electrolysis) separates the negativelycharged electrons from the positively charged protons. The electrons must travel through an electricalcircuit to reach the other side of the cell because they cannot travel through the membrane., creating acurrent. The protons move through the electrolyte to the cathode and combine with oxygen and electronsto make water and a little heat. The product of fuel cells is water or water vapor because the heatproduces puts it into vapor states.

The amount of power produced by a fuel cell depends on the size of the fuel cell, the fuel cell type, thetemperature of operation, and the pressure of the gases supplied to the cell. A small energy use of a singlefuel cell is the car demo suggested here.

Why are Hydrogen and fuel cells so important?


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We consume petroleum based fuels 100,000x faster than they become available. The United States getsmost of its energy from fossil fuels that we import from other countries, more than 50% of US petroleum isimported. The consumption of these fuels has caused significant damage to the ecosystem and is believedto be the primary cause of global warming and alterations in weather patterns. This consumption is alsoassociated with the increase in cases of asthma and lung cancer. Hydrogen is a cleaner and moresustainable form of energy for our growing population. A fuel cell can convert water into hydrogen andoxygen producing usable electrical energy like the energy powering this car.

Electolysis Activity

Goal of experiment

Use electrolysis to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen. Begin to understand the impact of cleanenergy and the power produced from combining water and electricity. Understand the fundamentals offuel cells.

Items needed for the experiment (per group):

1. Water

2. 6 volt lantern battery

3. Aluminum foil

4. Test leads with alligator clips at both ends

5. Salt

6. Clear plastic cup

Instructions for the experiment:

1. Make two electrodes out of the aluminum foil (should be very close in size)

2. Fill cup full of water

3. Attach one test lead from the positive terminal of the battery to an electrode and attach the secondtest lead to the negative terminal of the battery and the second electrode.

4. Place the electrodes in the water bath without allowing them to touch.

5. Observe

6. Add salt to the water bath

7. Observe

Items needed for fuel cell car demo:

1. DI water

2. Fuel cell car kit - http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/products/fc/fc2.html


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Instructions for the demonstration

1. Fill both cells with DI water

2. Use battery the run the PEM and separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen.

3. Connect the PEM to the leads on the car motor and watch the car drive.

Applications

1. Understand the connection between electrolysis and fuel cells2. Become more aware of the use of petroleum fuels and reduce the effect we have on our

environment.3. What other sources of energy could be used to split the water? ie. Solar


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Name ___________________________________ Electrolysis Activity Sheet

Hypothesis:

1. What will happen when we place the electrodes attached to the battery into the water bath?

2. Why is it important not to allow the electrodes to touch each other?

3. What will happen when we add salt to the water bath?

Observations:

1. What do you see on each electrode? Is it the same on both electrodes?

2. What difference did adding salt make? Why?

3. Which electrode is producing oxygen? And which is producing Hydrogen? How can you tell? Whatis the chemical reaction taking place? Use H2O in your answer.

Conclusions:

1. How could we trap the gas being produced at the electrodes?

2. What applications would this trapped gas be useful for?


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Name ___________________________________ Fuel Cell Activity Sheet

1. Name the three main parts of a fuel cell

2. Describe a PEM

3. How does a fuel cell make electricity.? Draw a picture.

4. How will fuel cell cars differ from the cars we drive today?

5. What are two advantages of fuel cell electricity cars?


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This activity is a wonderful combination of chemistry, energy and physics in real life application for lateelementary levels. It lends itself to some great problem-based learning focusing on alternative energysources, greener energy sources and possibly less expensive sources. This activity supports the matterand energy state standards.

NYS Standard 4: The Physical Setting

Key Idea 3: Matter is made up of particles whose properties determine the observable characteristics of

matter and its reactivity.P.I. - 3.1 Observe and describe properties of materials, using appropriate tools.

3.1c3.1e3.1g

P.I. 3.2 Describe chemical and physical changes, including changes in states of matter.3.2a3.2b3.2c

Key Idea 4: Energy exists in many forms and when these forms change energy is conserved.

P.I. 4.1 Describe a variety of forms of energy and the changes that occur in objects when they interactwith those forms of energy.

4.1a4.1b4.1c4.1d4.1e4.1g

P.I. 4.2 Observe the way one form of energy can be transferred into another form of energy present incommon situations.

4.2a4.2b

NYS Standard 4: Living Environment

Key Idea 7: Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and livingenvironments.

P.I. 7.1 Identify ways in which humans have changed their environments and the effects of thosechanges.

7.1a7.1b7.1c

NYS Standard 6: Interconnectedness : Common Themes

Key Idea 2: Models are simplified representations of objects, structures or systems, used in analysis,explanation, or design.

NYS Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, andtechnology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.

fuel cells with standards

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