Fuel Cells, Electrolysis, and Hydrogen

Fuel Cells Like batteries except no storage –Reactants flow in and products flow out First designed for space travel Wave of the future for cars A way to meet peak demands on power plants

Electrolysis Method for refining and purifying metals and other chemicals Reverse of a battery –Electrical energy in to force a chemical reaction

Corrosion >10 billion $ problem in US alone Chrome plating Galvanizing – coating with zinc –Secret is impermeable oxide coating Cathodic protection –Uses sacrificial anode

Hydrogen is a good light fuel whether burned or used in a fuel cell If burned with just Oxygen or used in a fuel cell, no pollution.

Hydrogen Not an energy source but an energy carrier Even though it may not produce pollution when used, how about when produced? How do we get hydrogen? –Natural gas + steam ---- carbon dioxide –Electrolysis of water How did we get the electricity – Calif. Chicken before the egg syndrome

A better way of getting hydrogen out of water Not yet practical Water cannot absorb energy well from sunlight

Another possible source of hydrogen

Hydrogen from methanol via the “re-forming” reaction Most practical storage for hydrogen on a small sized Vehicle would be as a hydrocarbon liquid Does produce CO 2

H29 – C12 18, 20, 22, 23, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, , 57, 58, 60