Jack, Nicholas, and Tyler Team Jamaica Jack, Nicholas, and Tyler Hydrogen Fuel Cells as an Alternative Power Source

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Description Hydrogen fuel cell cars operate on compressed hydrogen injected into a fuel cell producing electricity to power the vehicle. A fuel cell is a cell that yields electricity due to a direct chemical reaction. Used in combination with an electric motor, a fuel cell can be used to operate a vehicle powerfully, silently, and with zero carbon emission. Therefore, converting hydrogen gas into electricity produces water as a byproduct.(6)

Relevance of Hydrogen Fuel Cells in the Modern World Conventional power plants generate energy at an efficiency rate of 33 to 35 percent, while hydrogen fuel cell systems can generate energy at an efficiency at a rate of up to 60 percent. Having this as a source of energy would help to meet the demands of the earth's growing population well into the future.(1) A typical gasoline engine converts roughly 20% of the chemical energy attained into power which moves the vehicle, while fuel cells, which power electric motors, use up to 60 percent of the fuel's energy, which corresponds to a more than 50% reduction in fuel consumption.(1) (2)

(3) Relevance of Hydrogen Fuel Cells (contd). The research performed in the area of hydrogen fuel cells has the ability to benefit large numbers of people in areas across the world. The properties that fuel cell technology have include making vechicles more fuel efficient while at the same time producing no harmful byproducts will mean that consumers around the world will have the opprotunity to save money and time not needing to refuel their vechicles as often.(1) The enviroment can also benefit from the use of hydrogen fuel cell technologies as well. No carbon emmisions means no harm will be done to the ozone layer of the atmosphere.(1) (3)

History of the hydrogen cell   Sir William Robert Groves was credited with creating the concept of a fuel cell in 1839 when he mixed hydrogen and oxygen with an electrolyte, which produced electricity and water, but it was too weak to be useful.   The idea of a fuel cell was later built upon by a man named Francis T. Bacon in 1932.  He used hydrogen and oxygen with an alkaline electrolyte and nickel electrodes to produce energy.  He perfected his design in 1959 and demonstrated a 5-kilowatt fuel cell that could power a welding machine.     The cell was used later in 1959 by Harry Karl Ihrig, an engineer for Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company.  He demonstrated the uses of a fuel cell by using one to power a 20-horsepower tractor, which was the first vehicle ever powered by a fuel cell. (5) 

Future Research on Hydrogen Fuel Cells There are obstacles that must be overcome in order to make hydrogen fuel cells a viable option for use in technologies. First, fuel cells must be made more cost competitive then traditional power options in order to make them more appealing to consumers.(1) There are also ongoing research initiatives aimed at developing materials in order to reduce the cost and extend the life of parts of hydrogen fuel cell systems. The main goal of these initiatives is to achieve low cost, high volume manufacturing techniques.(1)

Conclusion    The hydrogen fuel cell is a relatively modern technology, its concept being created in the mid-1800's.  It has progressed a long way since then, from producing no useful amount of energy to producing enough energy to run a car.  Though there are some obstacles to overcome, especially concerning price, the applications for the future are limitless.  New ways to utilize the energy of hydrogen fuel cells are being researched throughout the world, so that, maybe someday, the world can stop relying on fossil fuels and move on to a more renewable energy source: hydrogen.

Resources 1. "Hydrogen Fuel Cells Fact Sheet." Www.hydrogen.energy.gov. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. 2. Fuel Cell Car. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. 3. Digital image. Computerworld.com. N.p., 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. 4. Element One. Digital image. N.p., 12 Oct. 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. 5. Bellis, Marry. "Hydrogen Fuel Cells - Innovation for the 21st Century." About.com Inventors. About.com, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. 6. Make/Model, By. "DriveClean.ca.gov." Drive Clean. California Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

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