Solar Power and Hydrogen Fuel Does anyone know? Tell me!!! HAHA! I know!!!

Getting to Know Your Terms... Power is produced by using semiconducting materials like silicon, (an element mostly found in sand) to release electrons (the negatively charged particles) that form the basis of electricity. Photovoltaics combines “photo” meaning light and “voltaic” refers to volts of electricity. Photovoltaic technology involves the generation of electricity from light. Photovoltaic cells (Solar panels) are made of Silicon.

What this Experiment is About This is a two-part experiment. We will be using a solar panel to provide electricity to an electrolyzer to divide hydrogen and oxygen from water to get hydrogen fuel. This is just so we can get pure hydrogen fuel. We will then use the hydrogen fuel in a fuel cell to provide electrical power to power a small fan, to show how fuel cells work. Normally we would only use the fuel cell powered by hydrogen but we first need to generate the hydrogen to put into the fuel cell.

Solar Power...How it Works Solar power converts sunlight into electricity by either using photovoltaics or by using concentrated solar power. PV panels convert light into electric current using the photoelectric effect; when the sun hits the PV panels, electrons are emitted because they have absorbed the sunlight.

Getting to Know the Process... When light shines on the semiconductor, electricity is produced. The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity! TOO Bright!!

Applications of Solar Energy... Solar energy can be stored at high temperatures using molten salts. The salts absorb sunlight during the day and release heat at night. The transfer of heat produces energy that is stored in batteries.

Solar Power Plants Around the World Finsterwalde Solar Park , Germany Largest PV power plants: Finsterwalde Solar Park, Germany Lieberose Photovoltaic Park, Germany Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant, Canada Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant, Canada

What is a Fuel Cell?   A device that produces electricity by combining a fuel, usually hydrogen, with oxygen. In this reaction, electrons are freed from the hydrogen in the fuel cell by a catalyst, and gain energy from the chemical reaction binding hydrogen and oxygen; this provides a source for electric current. The exhaust of hydrogen fuel cells consists simply of water. Fuel cells are currently used in spacecraft, and increasingly in ground transportation, with potential use everywhere electricity is required.

The History of the Fuel Cell Schonbein The History of the Fuel Cell Discovered by German scientist Christian Friedrich Schonbein in 1838. In 1955 W. Thomas Grubb modified the original fuel cell design. In 1958 Leonard Niedrach devised a way of depositing platinum onto a membrane which served as a catalyst for the necessary hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions, this became known as the Grubb- Niedrach Fuel Cell. Niedrach & Grubb

Fuel Cells Facts Since fuel cells cannot store energy like a battery, they are instead combined with batteries to form an energy storage system.

Getting to Know the Reversible Fuel Cell The reversible fuel cell is both an electrolyzer (that which breaks down) and a fuel cell. When applying an electric current, the device acts as an electrolyzer that produces hydrogen and oxygen from water (breaks water down into its’ separate elements). ZAP!!!

[ih-lek-trol-uh-sis] noun (Physical Chemistry): ELECTROLYSIS [ih-lek-trol-uh-sis]   e·lec·trol·y·sis    noun (Physical Chemistry): The passage of an electric current (like from a solar panel) through an electrolyte (liquid with salts or acid) with subsequent migration of positively and negatively charged ions to the negative and positive electrodes. In other words, a system which can break down complex compounds into its separate elements.

Electrolyzer Function...How Does it Work? Electrolysis is the use of electrical energy to produce a chemical change which is used to break the bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen in the water, released in the form of gas. In other words, it separates the hydrogen from the oxygen

Electrolyzers generate hydrogen at relatively low pressures and high quantities; which requires large storage vessels for the hydrogen to be used in the fuel cell.

The Experiment!!! When electrical current is passed through the electrolyzer ,Hydrogen is being produced on the negative side or “cathode” of the reversible fuel cell, and oxygen is being produced on the positive side or “anode”. We will use this hydrogen on the other side of the fuel cell to provide power.

Applications of the Fuel Cell... Fuel cells are very useful as power sources for spacecraft, weather stations, large parks, and certain military applications. They are used in cars as well, but common use is years away. The Stuart Island Energy Initiative (State of Washington): hydrogen is stored and provides full electric backup to the residents.

Proton Exchange Membrane

How Does it Work????? A fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen to usable electric power.