Mount Olive Robotics Team

1
Research Journal
First Fuel Cells

• Team 11
• Mount Olive Robotics Team

2
What is Hydrogen?

• Hydrogen is the lightest element, and is highly
  reactive with certain substances.
• It is a common element in formation of organic
  compounds.
• It consists of one proton and one electron.
• In nature, hydrogen is a diatomic molecule.
• Two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom
  to form a molecule of water.
• Hydrogen is the base for most fuel cells.

A diagram of the structure of an atom of
hydrogen.
3
What are physical and chemical properties of
hydrogen?

• Physical
• Pure hydrogen is a gas under normal conditions,
  and is diatomic.
• At 0 C and regular atmospheric pressure,
  hydrogen has a relative density of .090 grams per
  liter (g/L), boils at 252.8 and freezes at
  259.14 C.
• Chemical
• The bond between the hydrogen atoms is very
  strong and can only be broken with a large amount
  of energy.
• When heated, hydrogen gas will react with oxygen
  in the air to produce water.
• Hydrogen bonds are unique bonds formed between
  hydrogen and oxygen in different molecules, and
  are extremely difficult to break.
• Hydrogen bonds are responsible for several unique
  qualities of water, such as adhesion, cohesion,
  and the fact that ice floats in water.

4
Where does hydrogen come from?

• Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the
  universe.
• It is one of the first elements to ever exist,
  which can be seen by its simple structure of one
  proton and one electron.
• Hydrogen can be made through a process called
  electrolysis, where an electric current is used
  to split up a substance, such as water.
• Since water is a polar molecule, with its oxygen
  being more negative and hydrogen atoms acting
  more positive, the negativity of an electric
  current attracts the hydrogen atoms and breaks
  the polar covalent bonds in the water molecule.
• This produces hydrogen and oxygen gas, which can
  be harvested to be used in other applications,
  such as in a fuel cell.

The sun is primarily composed of hydrogen, which
fuels its fusion reactions. Image
www.noaanews.noaa.gov/
5
How do we safely store it before we use it?

• Hydrogen is a compressed and sometimes converted
  to liquid form to store.
• The tanks must also be well insulated to prevent
  boil off. Ice may form around the tank, and
  corrode it if the insulation fails.
• Insulation for liquid hydrogen tanks is
  expensive.
• Also, hydrogen may be combined with another
  substance, such as Calcium to form a solid
  substance such as Calcium Hydride, CaH2. The
  hydrogen is in this substance is less likely to
  react with the environment, and can still be
  broken down to release hydrogen when needed.
• This substance is less reactive than the pure
  hydrogen, and therefore has a lesser risk of
  reacting with the outside air, preventing
  possible explosions.

Structure of calcium hydride. Image
www.webelements.com
6
Where can you locally fill up a hydrogen storage
canister in your state?

• We can fill up a hydrogen storage canister at the
  Engelhard Corporation in Iselin, NJ.
• They specialize in platinum recycling and have
  been funded by the State of New Jersey to make
  hydrogen storage an easy publicly available
  commodity.

7
How available is hydrogen to buy today?

• Hydrogen is incredibly easy to purchase, in fact,
  you can make your own.
• By simply running a low voltage DC current
  through water, you will split water into oxygen
  and hydrogen.
• Hydrogen is currently selling at about 0.96 per
  kilogram straight from production plants.

8
What are the different sources of hydrogen on
earth? How is it extracted?

• Production through Methane Processing
• Methane can be burned to produce quantities of
  hydrogen and carbons.
• Methane is an organic hydrocarbon, and so can be
  split into its two component elements.
• Geothermal Process
• In certain locations, like Iceland, hydrogen is
  produced through natural geothermal processes,
  and can be harvested
• Production through Electrolysis
• Large production plants perform electrolysis
  through quantities of water.
• The resulting hydrogen is harvested by attracting
  it to an unlike current.
• Production through Biological Farming.
• Some bacteria and algae release hydrogen as a
  waste product.
• This hydrogen is harvested through chemical
  processes.

9
How much lighter than air is hydrogen?

• Hydrogen is about .0685127 (about 1/14th) the
  density of air. The density of air at STP, zero
  degrees Celsius and 101.3 kPa of pressure, is
  1.293 g/L, while the density of hydrogen is
  0.08988 g/L.
• Hydrogen weighs is 27 amu less than air, as
  hydrogen has an atomic mass of 1.002 amu, while
  air has an atomic mass of 28.9 amu.

10
What does Facilitating combustion mean?

• Facilitating combustion means that oxygen is a
  required part of any combustion.
• Be it wood, gasoline, or hydrogen, oxygen is
  needed for the chemical reaction to take place.

Combustion of Propane C3H8 5O2 ? 3CO2 4H2O
Combustion of propane as seen in a stove. Image
www.lititzmutual.com/carbon.html
11
What is electrolysis?

• Electrolysis is the process of separating ions
  from a compound, such as, separating O2 and H2
  from water.
• This is done by having a negatively charged
  cathode, and a positively charged anode.
• Because of the charge difference, positively
  charged ions (cations) move toward the cathode,
  and negatively charged ions (anions) move toward
  the anode.
• Current is run through the substance (In this
  case water) which gives the cathode and anode its
  charge.

Electrolysis. Image learner.org
12
How do we safely work with hydrogen?

• First, the hydrogen must be kept in a safe place
  at the proper temperatures for the tank, which
  depend on the amount of hydrogen and the pressure
  it is at in the tank.
• The hydrogen should have be cleaned/purified to
  avoid being contaminated with substances such as
  carbon.
• The container and any thing the hydrogen is
  traveling through should be checked for leaks
  using a Leak Detect Fluid.
• It should not be mixed with air.
• Prevent the hydrogen from contacting potential
  ignition sources to avoid harmful explosions.
• Inert gases, such as nitrogen, should be used
  when purging a hydrogen system.
• The venting of hydrogen should be preformed
  according to the standards and regulations set
  for the amount of hydrogen youre using, and what
  exactly youre doing with it.
• Special flame detectors are required as hydrogen
  flame is invisible.
• Safety goggles should be worn at all times.

13
Where can you find the best information on
hydrogen safety?

• The best information about hydrogen safety can be
  found in classes taught by someone who has either
  studied hydrogen safety themselves or someone who
  works with hydrogen gas regularly.
• This way, the information provided is from a
  reliable source that can answer questions asked,
  not by one that assumes that they know what
  theyre saying.
• One could also search the vast source of
  knowledge that is the internet, and read articles
  about hydrogen safety on the numerous websites
  dedicated to fuel cell technology and/or
  hydrogen.

14
How can you set up your lab to work safely with
hydrogen fuel cells?

• To set up a lab to work safely with hydrogen fuel
  cells, first make sure everyone involved knows
  about the risks of using hydrogen gas.
• Also, make sure the fuel cell is airtight, so
  that no gas escapes. This can be done by putting
  an odorous gas, like ammonia, through the cell,
  so any leaking spots will be detectable.
• Make sure that the fuel cell is completely clean
  before use, as residue could alter the
  combustion.
• Another thing to remember is to use a shield when
  actually testing the fuel cell with hydrogen, and
  to make sure everyone is behind the shield until
  it is beyond a reasonable doubt that it works as
  it should.

15
Hydrogen vs. Other fuels

• Hydrogen is Non-toxic (vs. gas oil)
• Needs higher concentration to burn (less likely
  to explode at lower concentrations, 4 H2 in atm
  vs. 1 gasoline in atm)

Characteristics Related to Fire Hazards of Fuels
T. Nejat Veziroglu. Hydrogen Energy System A
Permanent Solution to Global Problems. University
of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
16
What current technologies and inventions use
hydrogen as a fuel?

• Automobiles
• Many automobile companies are building prototype
  hybrid cars.
• One of their main sources is fuel cells.
• Spacecrafts
• NASAs space shuttles use liquid hydrogen as a
  fuel.
• Since 1970

NASA spacecraft. Image NASA
Hondas FCX fuel cell concept protoype. Image
http//world.honda.com/FuelCell/
17
What is a fuel cell?

• A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical
  energy into electrical energy. Fuel cells are
  designed for continuous replenishment of the
  reactants consumed and produce electricity from
  an external supply of fuel and oxidant like
  oxygen or air, although chlorine and chlorine
  dioxide have also been used so they can
  theoretically run continuously as long as the
  reactants flow in and the products flow out.

A Fuel Cell. Image http//www.fuelcells.org
18
What materials make up the fuel cell we shipped
you?

• Graphite (anode, cathode, and bipolar for the
  electrolyte in between the electrodes)
• Nickel coated copper 4 current collector plate
• Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA) 1 per cell
• 70L Hydrogen

19
Describe how the fuel cell works? How do we get
energy from it? Explain its electrochemistry?

• How it works
• A fuel cell works much like a battery, but it
  doesnt need to be recharged and does not run
  down over use.
• As long as the proper fuel is supplied, a fuel
  cell will continue to generate heat and
  electricity.
• How to get Energy
• The fuel cell is composed of two electrodes which
  contain an electrolyte between them.
• Diatomic oxygen in the air enters through one
  electrode, the cathode, and hydrogen from a
  hydrocarbon fuel source enters through the anode
  electrode.
• The hydrogen is split into a proton, a hydrogen
  ion, and an electron from the anode catalyst.
• Electrochemistry
• The electrons from the hydrogen atoms create an
  electric current which is used to power
  something, such as a light bulb, and make their
  way to the cathode.
• The protons travel through the sandwiched
  electrolyte to the oxygen receiving cathode as
  well.
• At the cathode, a catalyst encourages the
  production of water from the hydrogen ions (the
  protons), the electrons, and oxygen atoms.
• The water is released from fuel cell, perhaps to
  be broken down into the components by which the
  fuel cells uses hydrogen and oxygen.

20
There are several types of fuel cells. What type
of fuel cell is in your kit?

• The type of fuel cell in our kit is a PEM, also
  known as a Proton-Exchange Fuel Cell.

Proton-exchange fuel cell (PEM) These are suited
for smaller systems, such as light-duty vehicles
and possibly replacements for rechargeable
batteries. They are sensitive to impurities in
the fuel.
21
Other Types of Fuel Cells

• Reversible Fuel Cell They use ionomers as their
  electrolyte, and their process can be reversed.
  This means that the fuel cell could use the
  electricity it made to break down the expelled
  water into hydrogen and oxygen, to use it again
  in the fuel cell.
• Direct-methanol fuel cell There is no need for a
  fuel reformer in these fuel cells because the
  anode catalyst draws the hydrogen from the
  methanol fuel by itself. They are targeted to be
  used for military electronic equipment in the
  field, and would work well for laptops and cell
  phones.
• Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells These use a
  solution of sodium borohydride as fuel and an
  aqueous alkaline solution, such as sodium
  hydroxide, for the electrolyte. One advantage the
  DBFC has is that its highly alkaline fuel and
  borax, a waste product, prevent the fuel cell
  from getting poisoned by carbon dioxide in the
  air.
• Solid-oxide fuel cells They use a hard and
  non-porous ceramic compound for the electrolyte
  and work at temperatures around 1800 degrees
  Fahrenheit.
• Molten-carbonate fuel cells They use a molten
  carbonate salt mixture as the electrolyte in a
  permeable and chemically inert medium. They are
  primarily planned to be used for electric utility
  applications.
• Phosphoric-acid fuel cells They can use impure
  hydrogen as a fuel, and use liquid phosphoric
  acid as the electrolyte between the electrodes.
• Alkaline fuel cells They use potassium hydroxide
  as the electrolyte, and require pure hydrogen and
  oxygen as they are susceptive to contamination
  from carbon.
• Ammonia fuel cells They use ammonia as a fuel,
  which is basically non-flammable and
  non-explosive.

22
Mapout the fuel cell companies listed in the
USFCC web site(usfcc.com), theFuel Cell Europe -
World Fuel Cell Council web site
(fuelcellmarket.com),and the OFCC
(fuelcellsohio.org)

• The USFCC, the US Fuel Cell Council, contains
  representatives from various companies spread
  throughout the United States, such as 3M, General
  Motors, and DaimlerChrysler.
• The World Fuel Cell Council contains fuel cell
  manufactures and material suppliers from all
  across the world. Some of them are DuPont, Gaz de
  France, and Toshiba.
• The OFCC, Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, contains
  various leaders from industry, academics, and the
  government from all over Ohio. Some of these
  institutions and companies are NorTech, The Ohio
  State university, and the NASA Glenn Research
  Center.

23
Why do we need coalitions? Does your state have a
fuel cell coalitions?

• State Coalitions
• There are several fuel cell coalitions in New
  Jersey, such as the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen,
  Coalition, the Public Fuel Cell Alliance, and
  the Clean Energy States Alliance.
• The New Jersey Department of Transportation wants
  to incorporate fuel cells in helping advance
  roadside technology and the way vehicles run.
• Need for Coalitions
• Fuel cell coalitions are important to strengthen
  the industry, accelerate progress, and lay down
  the frame work for large scale integration of
  fuel cells.
• By forming coalitions of various companies, they
  can work to promote public awareness of the
  benefits of fuel cell technology, share ideas and
  new technologies, and encourage federal and state
  funding for the implantation of fuel cell
  technology.
• Without coalitions, it would take much longer to
  generate interest and progress in fuel cells as
  there would be less people backing the technology
  together .

24
What fuel cell business resources are in your
state?

• SCHENECTADY-GE Fuel-Cell Systems (GEFCS) has
  signed a memorandum of understanding naming New
  Jersey Resources (NJR) as its exclusive partner
  in the sale and marketing of Plug
  Power-manufactured residential and small,
  commercial-sized fuel-cell systems.

25
Mapout your states fuel cell resources

• There are several companies and businesses which
  manufacture various fuel cell components NJ.
• Many companies from outside NJ will ship and sell
  their products to people in NJ.
• New Jersey is surrounded by water on three of its
  sides and has many lakes, which could provide
  water sources for electrolysis.
• New Jersey is home to several mines, which
  provide various ores and minerals which could be
  used for the electrolyte portions of the fuel
  cell.

26
If your team were employees in the fuel cell
industry, where do you think they would like to
work and why?

• We believe that we would like to work in the
  automobile industry.
• The automobile industry would use the fuel cell
  to reduce the weight a vehicle and get rid of the
  demand of gas.
• This opens up many new opportunities in the
  automobile industry and is a great place for
  people to see direct results of the fuel cell.

NREL.gov
27
Do you think fuel cells are expensive?

• Yes, we believe fuel cells are expensive, but
  that does not mean that it is impossible to
  extract the entire value of the fuel cell.
• As with all new technologies, the research and
  development costs are high and the prices of the
  newly developed parts are high as well.
• As time goes on, and the technology improves and
  gains more investors, the price of fuel cells
  will go down and their userbase will increase
  immensely.

28
What are your thoughts on how costs can be
brought down?

• We think that the costs can be brought down in
  numerous ways
• After a year or two of production, the cost to
  manufacture the various parts will decrease, like
  parts of new computers and televisions, and the
  overall cost of the fuel cell can drop slightly.
• Also with time may come increased public
  awareness and popularity, thus attracting
  investors and new companies utilizing the
  technology, which would help out the fuel cell
  companies financially. With more money on hand,
  the fuel cell companies can afford to lower the
  prices, despite losing some profit, in order to
  attract new customers which would pay off in the
  end.
• Once competition arises in the fuel cell
  industry, if it has not already, companies will
  compete with each other by improving their
  products and reducing prices. Competition usually
  always benefits the consumer, and spurs on new
  breakthroughs in technology.

29
What benefits do you see using fuel cells in your
everyday lives?

• Economic Benefits
• It will eliminating the problem of gas and oil
  prices.
• Fuel cell will power cars and other vehicles
  making the use for oil from other countries
  unnecessary.
• Although the fuel may cost a bit more to start up
  with, it will only go down with more hydrogen
  production, as hydrogen is a renewable resource
  unlike fossil fuels currently used in
  automobiles.
• Environmental Benefits
• Also, fuel cells are a clean fuel, and will cut
  down on pollution greatly.
• Less pollution will lead to less acid rain, which
  destroys the environment, lower health risks in
  urban areas, and reduce global warming.

30
What type of business would you put into your
neighborhood to help its citizens adapt to
hydrogen fuel cells?

• To make adjusting to hydrogen fuel cells easier,
  it would be wise to open a hydrogen fuel station.
  It could be a part of a current gas station, or a
  separate structure with similar design.
• People will want the same type of fuel stations
  as they currently have. If they resemble todays
  gas stations, citizens will be more comfortable
  with them.
• It would also be a wise investment, since you
  would be able to get in the ground floor of an
  industry that has a huge potential in the future.

A hydrogen fuel cell station in Japan. Image
web-japan.org
31
What does renewable energy mean compared to
nonrenewable energy?

• Renewable energy is the energys by product that
  once it is produced it can be broken apart and
  used again.
• For example fuel cells by product is water.
• The water can then be broken back down into two
  hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, can be used
  again to make energy.
• Nonrenewable energy is a product that once it is
  used for energy it can not be used again.
• When you burn wood for fuel, its chemical
  composition is changed and can not be turned back
  into wood to be used again.

Image http//www.separationsnow.com
32
What are the environmental advantages of using
hydrogen fuel cells?

• The environmental advantage of using hydrogen
  fuel cells is that that the air will be less
  polluted because we wont be using gas for
  automobiles anymore.
• Burning of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide in
  the air, while fuel cells do not emit these
  environmentally harmful gases.
• Also, water is a by product of fuel cells, which
  is a natural and healthy resource.

33
What is your opinion, how can using fuel cell
technology help America?

• Fuel cell technology can help America by making
  the air less polluted
• It can get rid of the gas price issues, helping
  the economy to grow more freely, with fewer
  energy constraints.
• It will free America from international issues in
  relation to the oil trade, and weaken the
  influence of other nations over the American
  economy.

Image http//www.intercitytransit.com/
34
What does the Wright Fuel Cell Group do?

• The Wright Fuel Cell Group develops and tests
  fuel cells providing the world with the most
  powerful fuel cell development resources.

35
Is there a group like this in your state?

• We believe that there is a group like this in
  our state.
• One of Wright Fuel Cell Groups partners is First
  Energy Corporation.
• First Energy Corporation has a branch in New
  Jersey so they do have representatives of their
  organization in our state.

36
What schools in the USA teach fuel cell
technologies?

• According to fuelcells.org, there are colleges
  all across the nation which teach fuel cell
  technologies. The bulk of them seem to be in
  northeastern states like New York and
  Massachusetts, but there are several on the west
  coast, such as California

Here is a map with each blue dot representing a
school somewhere in the state. Theyre not to the
exact locations however.