Hydrogen fuel cell technology - Essay Example

Hydrogen fuel cell technology Energy from hydrogen, an environmentally friendly gas, is a much discussed energy source. The use of hydrogen fuel cells in automobiles and industry applications would significantly decrease the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere, result in a reduction of dependence on foreign oil and expand commercial prospects. Development and deployment of hydrogen technology is at varying stages throughout the world. Iceland, for example, is already well on its way to becoming the first nation to generate 100 percent of its power needs by means of hydrogen fuel-cells. Though hydrogen powered means of transportation are not accessible to the public as yet, it is past the initial research and development phase and is presently being demonstrated for both heavy and light-duty load applications. This discussion examines how hydrogen fuels cells operate, barriers to its production and usage, present applications and projections regarding its integration to widespread consumption. A fuel cell is a silently running battery that is continually refilling while generating an electrical current by introducing hydrogen to oxygen, a combination that produces energy. While in principle, a fuel cell operates like a battery it does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. Hydrogen, the ‘H’ in H2O, is, not surprisingly, found in water. The resource is boundless and instead of emitting CO2, hydrogen emits only water vapor. Extracting hydrogen, however, is a costly undertaking at present and is flammable giving concern to safety during transport. To extract hydrogen atoms for commercial use, it must be separated from either fossil fuels such as methane or from water because it does not occur separately in nature at the quantity needed for the energy needs of a nation. Thus far, then, the extraction technology is not energy efficient (Romm, 2005). “The widely used method is to split the hydrocarbons in fossil fuels into hydrogen and carbon. This is much cheaper but it defeats the point somewhat as it still uses fossil fuels and creates carbon dioxide as a by-product” (“Energy”, 2002). However, it is widely accepted that the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles would successfully alleviate air pollution even if hydrogen was manufactured by this technique. Solar and wind energy can be also used to generate hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water (Lakhapate, 2002). Though the technology has economic and environmental advantages, there are certain obstacles to be surmounted before the national economy can make the transition to hydrogen fuel cells. Composed of a single electron and a single proton, hydrogen is the simplest and most common of all elements and will therefore seep out of any container regardless of its material strength. Because of this, hydrogen stored in tanks of any construction will evaporate at an approximate rate two percent per 24 hours.  As hydrogen gas penetrates a container, it initiates structural changes which cause the metal to become increasingly brittle. Another concern is the size of fuel tanks necessary to carry hydrogen fuel. To substitute the energy capability delivered by 20 gallons of gasoline would require approximately 62,000 gallons of hydrogen gas. To this point, low-density compressed hydrogen is used to power automobiles, which does not allow for the same range as does gasoline. Additionally, compressed hydrogen carries the risk of leaking through fuel tanks or escaping from the result of an accident thus causing an explosion. The Hindenburg incident is an example of the volatility of hydrogen gas. Liquefied hydrogen stores in a much smaller space, 60 gallons equates to 15 gallons of gasoline. However, there are the impediments to the storage of liquid hydrogen. It is a very cold substance, enough cold enough to freeze air (Romm, 2000). This frigidity quality plugs up valves in lines that carry the liquid hydrogen which has caused accidents in experimental vehicles. The costs involved in liquefying and keeping hydrogen cold is thus far excessive and the energy used in this process negates energy saved by its use. However, the rate of energy return is certain to improve as research continues. Other research has found that powdered metal hybrid compositions used for storage tanks allows for less volatility of hydrogen but are far heavier than conventional tanks (Romm, 2000). Hundreds of commercial and residential buildings worldwide are presently equipped with hydrogen fuel cell systems. They offer primary and emergency back-up power to hospitals, schools, hotels, airports, office, etc. This type of fuel cell system is comprised of a ‘fuel reformer’ which extracts hydrogen from the particular fuel, a ‘fuel cell stack’ that converts hydrogen into electricity which is converted to AC current from DC by the ‘power conditioner.’ Fuel cells are reported to decrease energy costs by up to 40 percent as compared to standard energy delivery systems. Besides creating far less air pollution, fuel cells function silently thus reducing noise pollution as well. In addition, fuel cells produce waste heat which can be further utilized to provide heating for a building’s heating needs. From the very large to the very small, hydrogen fuel cells have and will continue to produce energy for a various number of applications such as laptop computers and cellular phones. Micro fuel cells have the potential to provide energy for “video recorders, portable power tools and low power remote devices such as hearing aids, smoke detectors, burglar alarms, hotel locks and meter readers” (Pates, 2006). The most visible, well known and most anticipated applications of fuel cell technology involve the automobile industry. Many in the industry cite research suggesting that fuel cell engines for cars will someday fall to a prices price comparable to that of the existing fossil fuel burning internal combustion engines. The Environmental Protection Agency predicts that hydrogen fuel cells powered by methanol will increase gas mileage by more than 100 percent. Most experts agree that hydrogen-powered vehicles will not be ready for mass production for at least a decade, however. As is the case for all new technology, the price is high at first then gradually decreases. At present, two major obstacles are slowing the mass implementation of these alternative powered vehicles. The fuel cell itself is cost-prohibitive as is the cost to convert service stations to deliver hydrogen technology to cars. Estimates have placed the total price to convert service stations at more than a million dollars. This price includes the $350,000 hydrogen system. “The $350,000 unit would handle only enough fuel for about 20 cars per day, while a typical gas station might handle 250 to 300 cars” (Pates, 2006). Fuel cell technology is an emerging industry with revenues expected to reach $10 billion in the U.S. alone by 2010, up from $200 million in 2002 and approximately $3 billion in 2004 according to Allied Business Intelligence Inc.  The breakdown for 2004 is; electric power generation, 850 million, vehicles, 750 million, and 200 million apiece for portable generators and various military applications. Hydrogen fuel sells produced a total of 75 megawatts of electricity in 2001. This amount is expected to grow to at least 15,000 megawatts by 2011. Hydrogen fuel cells currently produce electricity at an estimated $3000 per kilowatt. When this number reaches a more feasible level, $1000 per kilowatt, for example, most researchers in the field believe that hydrogen fuel cell systems will begin to become very popular. Researchers generally conclude that the most effective method by which to reduce the presently prohibitive expense of fuel cells is to extract hydrogen via solar-generation as this method has proven to potentially split water molecules more efficiently. According to scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, instead of using the most traditional method, steam, to extract hydrogen from natural gas, solar powered extraction takes advantage of water and light, two abundant and low-cost natural resources. Solar-powered, or ‘photoelectric’ water splitting, utilizes electric currents which is passed through a vessel of water. Hydrogen atoms collect around one electrode and oxygen atoms around the other if the current is strong enough. Once the hydrogen is harvested, oxygen is all that remains. “The water-splitting method is currently not as cheap or as efficient as the natural gas method, but scientists are working toward changing that” (Turner & Block, 2002). A study by Royal Dutch Shell Oil concluded that fossil fuels, oil and coal, are expected to continue as the world’s principal energy source until about 2040. This study did not, however, factor into their conclusions that vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells could possibly reach one-quarter of total new car auto sales by 2020 in developed nations (Mello, 2004). The use of hydrogen fuel cells to provide power in industry, residential and vehicle applications would effectively ease air pollution even manufacturing the gas by current methods. Given the fact that fossil fuels are finite and its emissions are threatening every living thing on earth, why have most nations been slow in efforts to reduce the use of oil in favor of more viable energy sources? The consequences of not developing hydrogen-based fuels are a polluted atmosphere which puts the existence of the planet at risk. No matter the costs of development and implementation, the cost of inaction is ultimately higher. Works Cited “Energy, Alternatives to Oil.” Hydrogen. (2002). BBC News. November 8, 2006 Lakhapate, PJ. “Fuel Cells – Powering Your Home, Your Car, Tomorrow?” Science. (December 2002). Africa Magazine. November 8, 2006 Mello, Tara Baukus. “Fuel Cell Future: Goodbye, Gasoline Hello, Hydrogen.” Edmunds.com. (May 25, 2004). November 8, 2006 Romm, Joseph J. “The Hype About Hydrogen Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate.” Culture Change. (July 4, 2005). Sustainable Energy Institute. November 8, 2006 Pates, Mikkel. “Hydrogen Power is Fuel of the Future.” Grand Forks Herald. (February 13, 2006). November 8, 2006 Turner, John A. & Block, David. “The Sun May Hold the Key to the Future of Fuel Cells.” AFC News Source. (December 31, 2002). November 8, 2006 Read More