Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells - How It Works

Fuel Cells
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells have high-power density, rapid startup, and low-temperature operation (around 80 to 120 C), and so are ideal for use in applications such as energy transport and battery replacement. The electrolyte used is a proton conducting polymer. This is typically a perfluorinated polymer, though other hydrocarbon-based membranes are under development in an attempt to reduce cost or to enable operation at temperatures approaching 200 C. The catalytically active layer sits adjacent to the membrane, supported on a PTFE treated carbon paper, which acts as current collector and gas diffusion layer. For operation on pure hydrogen, platinum is the most active catalyst, but alloys of platinum and ruthenium are used when higher levels of carbon monoxide are present (CO is a poison in all low temperature fuel cells). (more…)

New Catalyst for Hydrogen Production

Researchers at the Institute of Chemical Technology have developed a new catalyst that allows to obtain, from bioethanol, hydrogen for direct use in fuel cells.

According to the researchers note the ITQ, the new catalyst is a new step towards the sustainable production of hydrogen with “interesting applications”, for example, buses, trains or trams based fuel cells.

It is an active catalyst at low temperatures, high selectivity to hydrogen production water and low carbon monoxide and methane. These three features can improve both energy and economic efficiency of hydrogen production process. “Hydrogen is currently produced by steam reforming of natural gas that operates at 900 º C, compared to 350 º C to working our catalyst, leading to a major energy savings,” said Antonio Chica, a researcher at the ITQ.

Likewise, the catalyst developed by the ITQ produced “very little” carbon monoxide, which means “breakthrough”, mainly to ensure optimal performance of the fuel cell because the CO is causing the malfunction of the batteries.

Also get “significant benefit” to the process of producing high purity hydrogen because it would involve the partial or total removal of one of the most expensive in the process units (units that use catalysts that are fairly expensive and aimed at the removal of CO by water displacement reactions and preferential oxidation). Similarly, the final stage of purification is simplified both in terms of energy and technology, which would mean “a considerable cost savings,” he said.

“The catalyst that we have developed could have interesting applications in industrial production of hydrogen. It has proven its efficiency in the laboratory, through the study of plant-level scale pilot will have to confirm the good results obtained so far, “said Girl.

Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future

hydrogen fuel
Most production systems try to become first full-scale production begins as small toys and devices of concept. The Horizon hydrogen car is an example.

Many people are aware of the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. One of the main culprits, of course, are emissions from automotive. (more…)

The European Union Biofuels Distance

I just read a very good news via Reuters. And is that the EU has decided to distance themselves from biofuels usage.

As we here at The Green Blog and often Erenovable, biofuels were a good idea that went astray. They are indeed a renewable energy, “but at the expense of what? Of deforestation, increased food prices, and possible food shortages in the future. Not to mention how undeveloped countries such as Brazil and Argentina are ruining their economies and ecologies because of the monopolization of crops for biofuels. (more…)

Electric Cars as a Solution to Climate Change

The leading automotive brands are being focused to produce electric vehicles because they believe they represent a harmony to the environment and climate change solution. (more…)

Photovoltaic Power Generation

Photovoltaic Power Generation
Today, photovoltaic cells only contribute a small proportion (approximately 0.04 percent) of total electricity in the United States. At the same time the production of solar panels has growth rapidly per year by around 20% growth in the 1990s and photovoltaic panels prices decreases every year. Annual worldwide solar panel production (including solar panels with homemade solar power homes) is about 400 MW per year. Based on the total cumulative capacity figure, it is already reaching 2 GW. (more…)

Hydrogen Conversion Kit Gasoline – Hydrogen Fuel Conversion

hydrogen conversion kit gasolineHydrogen has many applications when it comes to fuel. It can be used both in internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen engines are using the same principle the same way as gasoline fuels or hydrogen natural gas burned combustion, while the chemical energy of hydrogen used to generate electricity and heat transmission. Since the electrochemical reactions produced more efficient energy compare to the combustion energy, fuel cells are created more efficient fuel compare to internal combustion engines. In the long term it will benefit to the more efficient hydrogen conversion process. (more…)