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Text of Chem Mazda Presentation
Harnessing Hydrogen for Power: Hydrogen Cars Marisa Katz Hannah Lobingier
What exactly is a Hydrogen Car
In a hydrogen car, its primary source of power is from breaking down hydrogen
The use of hydrogen usually happens by two methods
Hydrogen 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
OR
Hydrogen 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)
H 2 O + electricity -> H 2 + O 2
ex.) battery, electrical outlet with a source of fossil fuels or renewable energy
Thermolysis (heat used to break up a substance)
H 2 O + heat -> H 2 + O 2
ex.) solar panels
Other molecules with hydrogen can be broken up into their components with added energy
Biological sources
Algae deprived of sulfur will produce hydrogen in a bioreactor
Hydrocarbons
Hydrogen 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 Work
Fuel Cells are like batteries
The type of fuel cell highlighted today uses a constant flow of hydrogen to produce energy
A 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 exchange
This 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 Water
In the cathode O 2 is ionized to O 2- .
In the anode H 2 is ionized to 2H +
2H + + O 2- = H 2 O
When 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
Advantages
Zero emissions (pure water is produced)
No dependence on foreign oil
Ability to harvest solar and renewable energy
Not 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% efficiency
Fossil fuel powered car at 10% - 20% efficiency
Hybrid powered cars have 30% - 35% efficiency
Ethanol 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 Green
California 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.
