Hydrogen Fuel Cell Science

Introduction to hydrogen fuel cell science:

The first fuel was conceived by a Welsh judge, inventor Sir William Robert in 1839. In the occurrence of an electrolyte, he mixed hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water. Later on, this invention was known as fuel cell but it didn’t produce enough electricity which is to be used.

Afterwards, in 1889, Ludwig Mond coined the term ‘fuel’ who attempted building a functioning fuel cell with air and industrial coal gas.


Functioning of hydrogen fuel cell:


Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity quickly and efficiently, without pollution.

A fuel cell is a conversion device of electrochemical energy. It converts the chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen into water. In the whole process, it produces electricity. When we use fuel cell, chemicals flow constantly into the cell so it never goes dead. As the chemicals flow in cell, electricity flows out of the cell. Most of the fuel cell use hydrogen and oxygen as chemicals.


Types of fuel cells in addition to hydrogen fuel cell:


The fuel cell has the competition with various energy conversion devices which includes the gas turbine in our city’s power plant, the gasoline engine in our car and the most important the battery in our laptops. A fuel cell gives a direct current voltage that is used to power motors, lights and any number of electrical appliances. There are many types of fuel cells, each use different chemistry. For example, polymer exchange membrane fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, and molten carbonate fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, and direct methanol fuel cell, etc.


Efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell:


The primary goal of fuel cell is the pollution reduction. Fuel cell has capability to be up to 80% efficient, if it is powered with pure hydrogen. It means it converts 80% of the hydrogen energy into electrical energy. This electrical energy is changed into mechanical work by electric motor and inverter.


Disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells:

Most of the fuel cell components are very expensive.
In general, fuel cells are slightly bigger than other batteries and engines.
The refueling and starting time of this cell vehicles are very longer.
This technology is not fully generated.