As I began to research alternative energy, hydrogen fuel is one source that caught my eye since I don't know very much about how it works and how it is used, only that people are trying to utilize it as a fuel source in cars. I was curious to find out how hydrogen fuel works. Hydrogen fuel is typically produced through fuel cells, which has an electrolyte in between an anode and cathode. Hydrogen molecules enter at the anode, and the protons pass through the electrolyte while the electrons are directed through an external circuit which generates an electrical current. Oxygen molecules enter at the cathode, where they react with the protons and electrons of hydrogen. The products of the reaction are water and heat.
Like any alternative fuel, it has its advantages and disadvantages, specifically when it comes to its use in cars. An advantage is that it produces no pollutants; its only byproduct is water. It can be produced domestically, reducing dependence on foreign oil. However, it has some obstacles it must overcome before it can be widely used. It poses a risk to drivers when they’re refueling their cars, since there is a chance that the hydrogen can combust with oxygen which causes the pump to burst into flames. Secondly, hydrogen does not exist naturally, so it takes energy to produce and it is expensive to produce. Currently, it's only manufactured at a few sites. Because of the manufacturing costs, fuel cell cars are not affordable for consumers. Thirdly, compared to the same volume of gasoline, hydrogen has much less energy, so it is difficult to create cars that with effective on board storage that will get far in between fill ups.
It is also interesting to note some recent developments that have been made regarding hydrogen fuel. Cella Energy has developed electrospraying, in which hydrogen is absorbed in microscopic sponges. What this technological jargon means for consumers is that refueling can now be safer. The sponges can be exposed to the air, so there is less concern about hydrogen combusting when drivers stop to refuel their cars. Also, another advance in hydrogen storage was made at Los Alamos National Laboratory which addresses the limited amount of fuel that can be stored in a car’s fuel tank. They discovered that ammonia borane has a high hydrogen storage capacity. This new storage system would allow hydrogen powered cars to pass the US Department of Energy’s benchmark requiring that the cars can be driven at least 300 miles on a single tank. Also contributing to the efficiency is that the ammonia borane can be regenerated into a usable form within the fuel tank. This crucial factor increases the practicality of hydrogen cars.
Through this research I have discovered that although hydrogen power has made leaps and bounds, there are still many steps that need to be taken to improve its development.
This post is based on the following sources:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hydrogen.shtml
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/hydrogen-fuel/
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20049733-48.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110321093701.htm
1 comment:
I found a somewhat lengthy but useful and related article on the Stanford.edu website. Provided are more advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel and the potential risks and problems involved. This article also suggests that the commercial use of hydrogen fuel is out of the question until some rather difficult hurdles can be overcome. These include the gasoline being-for the moment- cheap enough to continue using, political issues with nuclear resources, and technological issues with solar power are unsolved. This article is however somewhat dated and plans have been started in some countries, like Germany, to begin use.
Read more here:
http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/hydrogen.html
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