Rob Fox

Ann Postolowski

Magdalena Ramos

Brian Voas

Duke Energy Academy

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The History of

Hydrogen Fuel

Cells

• The idea of a fuel cell was first coined by Humphry Davy leading to a wave of research in the area

• The Hydrogen fuel cells were first used in commercial industry by NASA on the Gemini Project

Generating Hydrogen

• Magnesium hydride reacts

with water and has two

products, one being hydrogen.

• NaBH4+ 2H

2O = 4H

2

+NaBO2

Process 1:

Hydrolysis

Process 2:

Thermolysis• The heating of the water to

2500 ºC until the water

molecule decomposes into it’s

basic components H2 and O2

• MgH2+ HEAT = Mg + H

2

Generation of Electricity

H H

eH H

O

• A hydrogen fuel cell combines

hydrogen and oxygen to

produce electricity, heat, and

water.

• Fuel cells can be compared to

a rechargeable battery - as

long as the hydrogen is

supplied, it can always run.

Experiment Purpose

• Reduced dependence on fossil

fuels

• Life cycle comparable to that

of other conventional vehicles

• If pure hydrogen is used only

output is water

• Significantly less amount of air

pollutants are produced from a

fuel cell

Why use hydrogen fuel

cells?

6

Experiment Format

We explored the many aspects of hydrogen…

1Manufacture Hydrogen 2Stored the

Hydrogen 3Utilized the Energy

Analysis of Experiment

Electrolysis – Decomposition of Water

Hydrolysis and

Thermolysis

MgH2 + HEAT = Mg +

H2

NaBH4 + 2H2O = 4H2

+NaBO2

Green: Fuel Source Battery

Red: Fuel Source Solar

Production of

Hydrogen

8

Consumption

How much is

Hydrogen energy

in comparison?

1 liter of liquid

Hydrogen has

as much energy

as:

1 gallon of

liquid Hydrogen

has as much

energy as:

Gasoline (liters) 0.279 1.06

Gasoline

(gallons)0.0737 0.279

Diesel (liters) 0.221 0.837

Diesel (gallons) 0.0584 0.221

Methanol (liters) 0.536 2.03

Methanol

(gallons)0.142 0.535

Propane (ft3) 3.55 13.4

Jet Fuel (liters) 0.227 0.86

Jet fuel (liters) 0.600 0.227

9

Applications

Hydrogen fuel cells promote a promising future

GM is creating a hydrogen

powered car

Honda is powering

homes with hydrogen

cells

NASA’s Apollo is using

hydrogen cells to fuel

rockets

Policy

• Above Average Production:

• Denmark, Norway, Japan

• Average Production:

• USA has little incentives

to produce hydrogen fuel

• Below Average Production:

• Indiana has practically

zero incentives for

production

11

Citations

Special Thanks to:

Abel Chuang and Nate– Zukrow Lab – Duke Energy

Speaker

Timothee Pourpoint and Essene Waters – Zukrow Lab

– Duke Energy Speaker

• http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/history

• http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hydrogen+fuel+cells+y

outbe&qpvt=hydrogen+fuel+cells+youtbe&FORM=VDRE#vie

w=detail&mid=4AA5A6ECC6ED3DE02B5F4AA5A6ECC6ED

3DE02B5F

• http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hydrogen+fuel+diagra

m&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=hydrogen+fuel+diagram&sc=0-

0&sp=-

1&sk=#view=detail&id=F89546C09B409BDA1FF4D147067F

4B1F58C9CA4B&selectedIndex=1

• http://adamgoldfein.com/gm-pushes-the-pedal-on-hydrogen-

fuel-cell-power

• http://lunar.thegamez.net/greenenergyimage/examples-of-

alternative-energy-sources/role-of-renewables-in-us-energy-

large-1230x720.jpg

12

Special Thanks to Duke

Energy for making this

entire experience

possible!