latest developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology
hydrogen fuel cell technology’s a abundant and an extremely efficient energy storage medium. It has the ability to combine with oxygen from the atmosphere to produce water, which is called electrolysis. The hydrogen can be stored as compressed gas called Hydrogen Storage or in liquid form known as Hydrogen Lending or Stationary Storage. Although, it has been used since ancient times for various purposes, its widespread use is limited due to lack of availability of affordable refilling stations and high cost associated with production, transportation and storage of hydrogen. But that’s not a worry anymore because now hydrogen is getting popular day by day; more so with the developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the stored chemical energy from either renewable or non-renewable sources into electricity by using an external source of electrons, usually from a combustion engine. Once hydrogen is generated by electrolysis process it gets stored in Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFC) as pure liquid H2 or in Hydroxide form which reduces the cost and makes it easier to handle and store as compared to other forms such as gaseous hydrogen or heavy hydrocarbons (Cars That Run On Oil).
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
We all know that hydrogen is generated by electrolysis and it can also be generated from renewable sources like solar and wind. These hydrogen sources are known as Renewable Hydrogen and these hydrogen can be used as electrolysis source or H2 production source. HFCs deliver clean hydrogen for use in fuel cells, generate electricity and can also store hydrogen for later use. They are available in various shapes and sizes like Refrigerators, Windows, Meters, Trucks, Buses, etc. However, there are few health issues of long term air quality exposure due to HFCs, but they are not harmful in the normal conditions. H2 Production There are various methods to convert H2 into hydrogen and electrolysis is one of them. H2 production has been increased using renewable energy like solar and wind, hydrogen can be generated using electrolysis or hydrocarbon combustion.
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Electrolysis is a common phenomenon in everyday life as we use water to produce power or in our kitchen where we use water to cook food. Electricity is generated by breaking water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen by applying an electrical current. If the water is electrolyzed and electricity is applied, oxygen is released and hydrogen is consumed. Renewable Hyddual is the process of converting water into hydrogen and oxygen by applying electricity. These hydrogen can be used for various purposes like producing electricity, storing hydrogen in fuel cells, etc. HFCs Types HFCs are available in various shapes, sizes and types for H2 generation as well as for hydrogen storage. They have been divided into three categories as per their working mechanism as shown in the table below. If we talk about hydrogen production, then HFCs are available in three types with their working mechanism, i.e. electrolysis, thermal and direct solar. These hydrogen production HFCs are easy to install and operate. Electrolysis is a process in which an electrical current is passed through water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. HFCs in electrolysis category are placed in direct current mode.
These are directly installed in the source of electricity like solar or wind to produce hydrogen. These hydrogen production HFCs can be used in stationary storage mode after they are converted into hydrogen. Thermal H2 production is a type of H2 generation through thermo-chemical reaction. These hydrogen production HFCs are placed in mixed current mode. They get mixed with the electricity generated by a HFC and produce hydrogen. These hydrogen production HFCs can be used for both stationary and mobile applications. Some of these hydrogen production HFCs are also available in direct current mode. Direct solar H2 production is a type of H2 generation through photo-electrolysis. These hydrogen production HFCs are placed in direct current mode. The photo-electrolysis is one of the best methods to produce hydrogen.
These hydrogen production HFCs can be used for both stationary and mobile applications. Buses and Trucks Buses, cars and trucks are the classical applications of hydrogen. H2 buses use hydrogen as the only energy source and do not require any fuel for their operation. H2 cars and trucks on the other hand use hydrogen as a secondary energy source and are fed by hydrogen which can be produced from different sources like electrolysis, solar, thermal or direct photo-electrolysis. Aircrafts and trains Like buses and trucks, airplanes and trains are also major applications of hydrogen as they produce hydrogen through electrolysis or thermal H2 production. These hydrogen production HFCs can be used in various ways as they are available in direct current, mixed current and direct photo-electrolysis mode. Conclusion Hydrogen is a present day energy source and will remain as such in future as well. It has the ability to store energy which makes it more efficient than any other source of energy like fossil fuels. However, it has its own pros and cons and hence it’s not suitable for all applications. You can decide on which application of hydrogen you will like to invest your money and time. From heavy machinery to light-weight cars, from buses to aircrafts, from hydrogen generators to hydrogen storage, hydrogen has everything under one roof. So, what are you waiting for?
