Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

ABSTRACT

This paper deals hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, in this we explain why hydrogen can be used as fuel in further days to come, it can be of great use and as natural resources are getting depleted and there is scope of using better fuels with reduced emissions with good power and torque. In this the fuel cell is used to store energy which can be used in driving the car. Over the last several decades, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have emerged as a zero tailpipe-emission alternative to the battery electric vehicle (EV). To address questions about consumer reaction to FCVs, this report presents the results of a “ride-and-drive” clinic series (n=182) held in 2007 with a Mercedes-Benz A-Class “F-Cell” hydrogen FCV. The clinic evaluated participant reactions to driving and riding in an FCV, as well as vehicle refueling. Pre-and post-clinic surveys assessed consumer response. More than 80% left with a positive overall impression of hydrogen. The majority expressed a willingness to travel five to ten minutes to find a hydrogen station. More than 90% of participants would consider an FCV driving range of 300 miles (480 kilometers) to be acceptable. Stated willingness-to-pay preferences were explored. The results show that short-term exposure can improve consumer perceptions of hydrogen performance and safety among people who are the more likely early adopters.

Hydrogen powered vehicles have been in development from the past decade. While the attention to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is increasing. Hydrogen internal combustion engines may prove to be the most effective solution for the immediate future. Over various research carried out in comparison of hydrogen as fuel to gasoline, hydrogen was the most efficient for performance and utilization. But the finalized development and releasing for public use may take over long period of time.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, SVCE


Table of contents

1. Introduction1.1. Motivation for use of hydrogen as transport fuel

1.1.1. Hydrogen

1.1.1.1 Chemical properties of Hydrogen

1.2. Introduction to hydrogen fuel vehicles

1.3. Applications

1.3.1 Automobiles

1.3.1.1 Buses

1.3.1.2 Bikes

1.3.1.3 Airplanes

1.3.1.4 Fork Trucks

1.3.1.5 Rockets

1.4.1 Advantages

1.4.2 Disadvantages

1.5 Hydrogen Production

1.6 Hydrogen storage

1.7 Hydrogen technology development in India

2. Literature survey

3. Objectives

4. Methodology

4.1 Working of hydrogen fuel cell

5. Conclusions

6. References



LIST OF FIGURES

SL no Title Page no

1. Hythane vehicle by Volvo, Multi Fuel 3

2. Hydrogen internal combustion vehicle, Mazda 4

3. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by Toyota 5

4. Toyota FCHV-BUS at the Expo 2005 6

5. Hydrogen bicycle, Shanghai, China 6

6. Boeing Fuel Cell Demonstrator 7

7. Reforming of Biomass 9

8. Central and dish type receiver/reactor 10

9. Particle/electrode system water splitting 10

10. Hydrogen production via electrolysis 11

11. Working of hydrogen fuel cell 15

12. Fuel car cell 16



1. INTRODUCTION

A vehicle using hydrogen as its fuel for power generation is known as hydrogen

vehicle. Automobiles considering various transportation vehicle like cars, buses, bikes

and cycles, as well as space rockets using hydrogen fuelled termed as hydrogen

vehicle. The main process of utilizing this energy is by converting the chemical

energy of hydrogen molecules to mechanical energy either by burning hydrogen in an

internal combustion engine by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to run the

electric motors. The proposed hydrogen fuel vehicle in commercial use over

worldwide is due to ease of hydrogen for fuelling transportation as key element.

Hydrogen acts as a good energy carrier and it can be produced by using renewable

sources. As of 2014, 95% of hydrogen is made from methane. The low cost of

producing the hydrogen is from electrolysis of water. Although evolving hydrogen is

an expensive process to use, this process can help us to save the fossils fuels for future

fulfilling the future demand and supply without stock out.

Hydrogen FCVs are a potential option for reducing emissions from the transportation

sector. Combusting fossil fuels to power conventional vehicles releases GHG (Green

House Gas like Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Ozone,

Chlorofluorocarbons) emissions and other pollutants from the vehicle exhaust system

(i.e., “tailpipe” emissions). In addition, there are also emissions associated with

producing petroleum-based fuels (i.e., “upstream” emissions), notably emissions from

oil refineries. FCVs emit no tailpipe GHGs or other pollutants during vehicle

operation, and depending on how hydrogen is produced, there can be substantially

lower upstream GHG emissions associated with producing hydrogen fuel. One

kilogram of hydrogen is roughly equal to one gallon of gasoline (on an energy level).



1.1 Motivations for use of hydrogen as a transport fuel

Of all the potential applications for hydrogen it is perhaps it’s potential for use as a

transport fuel that has provoked the greatest interest around the world. There are a

number of social and political motivations for a transition to hydrogen as a transport

fuel, from decarbonizing the transport sector to reducing dependency on imported oil.

The key motivations are summarized below

Reduced CO2 emissions

Improved energy efficiency

Reduced air pollution

Reduced noise

1.1.1 Hydrogen

Simplest element in the universe – one proton and one electron

Occurs naturally as a gas

Can be used to create energy through combustion or use in fuel cells

Most hydrogen is bonded to oxygen in the form of water (H2O)

Can be produced through the use of nuclear, solar, wind, and other renewable

sources

Diversity of sources make hydrogen available alternative fuel

Steam methane reforming (CH4 )

Hydrogen has long been considered as the wonder-fuel of the future.

1.1.1.1 Chemical properties of Hydrogen

Makes up 75% of the mass of all visible matter

Nontoxic and non-poisonous

Rarely found alone (H2) – usually bonded to oxygen in water (H2O)

Highly buoyant – lighter than air, rises and diffuses when leaked

1.2 Introduction to Hydrogen vehicles



Huge number of companies are in process to develop technologies that might

efficiently exploit the potential of hydrogen energy for use in motor vehicles with

better output. As of November 2013 there are demonstration fleets of hydrogen fuel

cell vehicles undergoing field testing including the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell,

Honda FCX Clarity, Hyundai ix35 FCEV and Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell.

There are three main options for hydrogen vehicles, presenting differing degrees of

technical challenge. These options are as follows:

Hythane vehicles- Hythane is a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas (up to a

20% hydrogen concentration) Vehicles adapted to run on compressed natural

gas (CNG) can run on hythane, hence the technology required for hythane

vehicles is already relatively mature

Hydrogen internal combustion vehicles (H2ICE) - The gasoline powered

internal combustion engine can be adapted to run on hydrogen fuel. This is

less technologically challenging than development of fuel cell vehicles and is

seen by some as a bridging technology

Fuel cell vehicle- A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that generates

electricity from the combination of hydrogen and oxygen (which can be taken

from the air). Development of fuel cell vehicles represents the greatest

technological challenges, requiring not only development of the fuel cell itself

but also of electric drive trains for vehicles.

Fig: Hythane vehicle by Volvo also known as Multi Fuel



The aim of finding different ways to supportable mobility by Volvo Car Corporation

has developed a system for a multitude of fuels. Where hythane among others four

bio-methane, natural gas, bioethanol E85 and petrol was considered for use. Hythane

consists of 10% hydrogen and 90% methane, a blend that has tested most effective for

this system.

Fig: Hydrogen internal combustion vehicle by Mazda

Mazda realized the potential benefits of hydrogen at an early stage, and has since been

engaged in development of hydrogen vehicles. In February 2006, Mazda became the

first company in the world to commercialize a hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, when

it began commercial leasing of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE in Japan. Since then, Mazda

has delivered RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles to national and local government

authorities as well as private enterprises. The main motto for introducing hydrogen

fuel vehicle by this company was to reduce the global warming as 20% of global

warming is caused by transportation sector.



Fig: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by Toyota

In Lexus RX450h designed by Toyota motor company, the front wheels are driven by

electric motor generated by chemical reaction in the hydrogen-powered fuel cell stack

located under the floor of the Mirai’s passenger compartment and the remaining

layout was same as normal. Water vapour was the only emission, some of which is

recycled to humidify the process.

1.3 Applications

1.3.1 Automobiles

Although there are currently no fuel cell cars available for commercial sale, over 20

FCEVs prototypes and demonstration cars have been released since 2009.

Automobiles such as the;

Honda FCX Clarity ,

Toyota FCHV-adv.

GM HydroGen4,

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell are all pre-commercial examples of fuel cell

electric vehicles.

Fuel cell electric vehicles have driven more than 3 million miles, with more than

27,000 re-fuelling.



1.3.1.1 Buses

Fig: Toyota FCHV-BUS at the Expo 2005

There are also demonstration models of buses, and in total there are over 100 fuel

cell buses deployed around the world today.

Most of these buses are produced by UTC Power, Toyota, Ballard, Hydrogenics,

and Proton Motor.

UTC buses have already accumulated over 970,000 km (600,000 mi) of driving.

Fuel cell buses have a 30-141% higher fuel economy than diesel buses and natural

gas buses.

1.3.1.2 Motorcycles and bicycles

Fig: Hydrogen bicycle, Shanghai, China

In 2005 the British firm Intelligent Energy produced the first ever working

hydrogen run motorcycle called the ENV (Emission Neutral Vehicle).

The motorcycle holds enough fuel to run for four hours, and to travel 160 km

(100 mi) in an urban area, at a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TOYOTA_FCHV_Bus.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hydrogen_bicycle.jpg


In 2004 Honda developed a fuel-cell motorcycle which utilized the Honda FC

Stack. There are other examples of bikes and bicycles with a hydrogen fuel cell

engine.

The Suzuki Burgman received "whole vehicle type" approval in the EU.

1.3.1.3 Airplanes

Fig: Boeing Fuel Cell Demonstrator powered by a hydrogen fuel cell

Boeing researchers and industry partners throughout Europe conducted

experimental flight tests in February 2008 of a manned airplane powered only by

a fuel cell and lightweight batteries.

The Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane, as it was called, used a Proton Exchange

Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric

motor, which was coupled to a conventional propeller.

In 2003, the world's first propeller driven airplane to be powered entirely by a

fuel cell was flown.

1.3.1.4 Fork trucks

A HICE (Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine) forklift or HICE lift truck is a

hydrogen fueled, internal combustion engine-powered industrial forklift truck

used for lifting and transporting materials.

The first production HICE forklift truck based on the Linde X39 Diesel was

presented at an exposition in Hannover on May 27, 2008. It used a 2.0 litre, 43

kW (58 hp) diesel internal combustion engine converted to use hydrogen as a fuel

with the use of a compressor and direct injection.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boeing_Fuel_Cell_Demonstrator_AB1.JPG


A fuel cell forklift (also called a fuel cell lift truck or a fuel cell forklift) is a fuel

cell powered industrial forklift truck. In 2013 there were over 4,000 fuel cell

forklifts used in material handling in the US.

Fuel-cell-powered forklifts can provide benefits over battery powered forklifts as

they can work for a full 8-hour shift on a single tank of hydrogen and can be

refueled in 3 minutes

1.3.1.5 Rockets

Many large rockets use liquid hydrogen as fuel, with liquid oxygen as an oxidizer.

Advantage of hydrogen rocket fuel is the high effective exhaust velocity

compared to kerosene/LOX (Liquid - Oxygen combination) or UDMH

(Unsymmetrical Dimethyl hydrazine) /N2O4 (Nitrogen tetroxide) engines.

According to the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, a rocket with higher exhaust

velocity needs less propellant mass to achieve a given change of speed. Before

combustion, the hydrogen runs through cooling pipes around the exhaust nozzle to

protect the nozzle from damage by the hot exhaust.

1.4.1 Advantages

1) Created from water, can be recycled to produce more hydrogen

2) Cleanest fuel available when combusted – produces carbon monoxide, carbon

dioxide, or hydrocarbon emissions

3) Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have a significant potential to reduce

emissions from the transportation sector, because they do not emit any greenhouse

gases (GHGs) during vehicle operation. Their lifecycle GHG emissions depend on

how the hydrogen fuel is made.

4) Leaks/spills will quickly evaporate and do not pose any threats to the environment

5) Several major hurdles to commercial deployment must be overcome before any

environmental benefits from FCVs are realized. These challenges include the

production, distribution, and storage of hydrogen; fuel cell technology; and overall

vehicle cost.

6) Domestic production will allow for energy independence

1.4.2 Disadvantages



1) Conceptually, replacing the current oil-based infrastructure with hydrogen would

cost billions, maybe trillions, of dollars.

2) Although abundant in the universe, hydrogen is fairly rare in our atmosphere,

meaning that it has to be extracted (for example through electrolysis, as

explained above) and currently, the process is cost prohibitive and inefficient.

3) It is a very flammable gas (think of the Hindenburg), which further adds to the

on-board storage problems. Its production at energy plants creates excessive

carbon dioxide.

4) Low energy content per unit volume

5) The large investment in infrastructure that would be required to fuel vehicles.

1.5 Hydrogen Production

1) Reforming of Biomass and Wastes : Hydrogen can be produced via pyrolysis or

gasification of biomass resources such as agricultural residues like peanut shells;

consumer wastes including plastics and waste grease; or biomass specifically

grown for energy uses. Biomass pyrolysis produces a liquid product (bio-oil) that

contains a wide spectrum of components that can be separated into valuable

chemicals and fuels, including hydrogen.

C6H12O6 + O2 + H2O → CO + CO2 + H2

Water-gas shift reaction

CO + H2O → CO2 + H2 + (small amount heat)

Fig: Reforming of Biomass

2) Thermal Water Splitting : Thermochemical water splitting processes use high-temperature heat (500°–2,000°C) to drive a series of chemical reactions that produce hydrogen. The chemicals used in the process are reused within each cycle, creating a closed loop that consumes only water and produces hydrogen and oxygen. The necessary high temperatures can be generated in the following ways:

Concentrating sunlight onto a reactor tower using a field of mirror

"heliostats"



Using waste heat from advanced nuclear reactors

3) Photo-electro-chemical Water Splitting : The PEC water splitting process uses

semiconductor materials to convert solar energy directly to chemical energy in the

form of hydrogen. The semiconductor materials used in the PEC process are

similar to those used in photovoltaic solar electricity generation, but for PEC

applications the semiconductor is immersed in a water-based electrolyte, where

sunlight energizes the water-splitting process.

4) Fermentation : Scientists over world are developing pretreatment technologies to

convert lignocellulosic biomass into sugar-rich feedstock’s that can be directly



fermented to produce hydrogen, ethanol, and high-value chemicals. Researchers

are also working to identify a consortium of Clostridium that can directly ferment

hemicellulose to hydrogen. Other research areas involve bio-prospecting efficient

cellulolytic microbes, such as Clostridium thermocellum, that can ferment

crystalline cellulose directly to hydrogen to lower feedstock costs. Once a model

cellulolytic bacterium is identified, its potential for genetic manipulations,

including sensitivity to antibiotics and ease of genetic transformation, will be

determined.

5) Renewable Electrolysis : Electrolysis is the separation of water into oxygen and

hydrogen by running a direct electric current through the water. It is the simplest

and cleanest way of producing hydrogen, because the hydrogen that comes out of

the process is 99.999% pure.

Fig: Hydrogen production via electrolysis

1.6 Hydrogen storage

Hydrogen storage in present context of development is the biggest problem for

research workers. According to the January 2003 Office of Technology Policy report,

fuel Cell Vehicles is race to a new automotive future. The needs of consumers in a

fuel cell vehicle are un-fulfilled due to inadequate hydrogen storage system. The

difficult raised for storage of hydrogen is because of its low density.

Existing and proposed technologies for hydrogen storage include;



1) Compressed gas storage : Pressurized tanks of adequate strength, including

impact resistance for safety in collisions, have been made of carbon-fiber wrapped

cylinders. Compressed gas storage in such tanks has been marked at a pressure of

34 MPa with a mass of 32.5 kg and volume of 186 L, sufficient for a 500-km

range. However, this tank volume is about 90% of a 55-gallon drum, rather large

for individual automobiles.

2) Liquid storage (cryogenic storage) : While having potential weight and volume

advantages, cryogenic method with activated carbon as adsorbent requires liquid

nitrogen temperatures and 2 MPa to hold the physically adsorbed hydrogen.

3) Carbon Nanotube and Related Storage Technologies: It is still unclear about

the status of using advanced carbon materials for the storage of hydrogen.

Reviewing the status of single walled, double walled, graphite nanofiber stack

storage and other carbon-based storage technologies that have been proposed

include alkali-doped graphite, fullerenes, and activated carbon, high surface area

and abundant pore volume in the nanostructured materials make these especially

attractive as potential absorption storage materials.

4) Storage as metal hydride : Hydrogen can be stored by metal hydridation method

above room temperature and below 3 or 4 MPa. This method adds up some

additional weight to vehicle use and considering this method for storage is

expensive too. Recent work by P. Chen, et al. has shown that lithium nitride can

reversibly take up large amounts of hydrogen. This material takes up hydrogen

rapidly in the temperature range 170-210ºC, and achieved 9.3 wt.% uptake when

the sample was held at 255ºC for 30 minutes. Under high vacuum (10-9 MPa)

about two-thirds of the hydrogen was released at temperatures below 200ºC and

remaining third of the 16 stored hydrogen required temperatures above 320ºC for

release.

5) Some others storage system like underground storage system and line storage

system.

1.7 Hydrogen production in India



Production of hydrogen by photo electrolysis of water using solar energy

Production of hydrogen by blue green algae & by certain bacterial species

Storage of hydrogen through metal hydride / non metal hydride

Problems relating to utilization of hydrogen as a fuel, that is developed for certain

engines and fuel etc.

Liquid hydrogen production, storage and utilization.

2. LITERATURE SURVEY

Fuel cells are more an evolutionary technology than a revolutionary one. Originally

invented in the early 1800s, the technology was developed gradually before being

given a boost through use in the NASA Apollo space program in the late 1960s and

early 1970s. During this period the first fuel cell car was demonstrated by General

Motors and was followed by several other early Fuel cell Electric Vehicle

demonstrations, all based on alkaline fuel cell technologies similar to those developed

for NASA. Fuel cells using proton exchange membranes, the type now used in fuel

cell electric vehicle, were first developed in 1958 but it took until 1993 for the

technology to become viable enough for vehicle demonstrations. 1820s – Rev. W. Cecil developed hydrogen-fuelled engine

1876 – Nicolaus Otto invented four-cylinder engine;

1885 – Gottleib Daimler invented modern ICE

1920s – first testing of the hydrogen Rudolf Erren used hydrogen ICEs in

submarines and land vehicles

General Motors coined the phrase “hydrogen economy” during the fuel crisis

of the 1970s

As fuel prices returned to normal, interest in hydrogen vehicles diminished

Rising fuel prices, environmental concerns, and energy security sparked

interest again in the twenty-first century



3. OBJECTIVES

1) Alternative for the existing exhausting fuels and reduced pollution with good energy economy and concentrating on Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

2) Explaining the working of the hydrogen fuel cell

3) Finding out if HICE is a reasonable possibility and if it is cost effective to mass HICE vs. Fuel Cells Production Methods

4) Determine the benefits, if any, of adapting HICEs now, rather than waiting for fuel cells to become available

5) Comparing the performance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with others competing technology

6) Availing the safety and public acceptance profit if HFV introduced as infrastructure



4. Methodology4.1 Working of hydrogen fuel cell

Fig: Working of hydrogen fuel cell

1) Hydrogen is chaneed through field flow plates to anode on one side of the fuel cell while oxygen from the air is chaneled to the cathode on the other side of the cell.

2) At the anode ,a platinum catalyst causes the hydrogen to split into positive hydrogen ions (protons) and negatively charged electrons.

3) The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) allows only the positively charged ions to pass through it to the cathode .The negatively charged electrons must travel along an external circuit to the cathode , creating an electrical current.

4) At the cathode , the electons and positively cahrged hydrogen ions combine with oxygen to form water, which flows out of the cell



Fig: Fuel car cell

A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a type of vehicle

which uses a fuel cell to power its on-board electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles

create electricity to power an electric motor, generally using oxygen from the air and

compressed hydrogen. A fuel cell vehicle that is fueled with hydrogen emits only

water and heat, but no tailpipe pollutants, therefore it is considered a zero-emissions

vehicle. Depending on the process, however, producing the hydrogen used in the

vehicle may create pollutants. Fuel cells have been used in various kinds of vehicles

including forklifts, especially in indoor applications where their clean emissions are

important to air quality, and in space applications. The first commercial production

fuel cell automobiles are being sold in California by Toyota and leased on a limited

basis by Hyundai, with additional manufacturers planning to enter the market.

Furthermore, fuel cells are being developed and tested in buses, boats, motorcycles

and bicycles, among other kinds of vehicles.

As of early 2014, there is limited hydrogen infrastructure, with 10 hydrogen fueling

stations for automobiles publicly available in the U.S., but more hydrogen stations are



planned, particularly in California. New stations are also planned in Japan and

Germany. Critics doubt whether hydrogen will be efficient or cost-effective for

automobiles, as compared with other zero emission technologies, such as the battery

electric vehicle.

5. Conclusions

1) Hydrogen Fuel cell vehicles are currently being researched for their feasibility of

widespread usage in automobiles and other forms of transportation.

2) Hydrogen fuel does not occur naturally on Earth and thus is not an energy source,

but is an energy carrier. Currently it is most frequently made from methane or

other fossil fuels.

3) However, it can be produced from a wide range of sources (such as wind, solar, or

nuclear) that are intermittent, too diffuse or too cumbersome to directly propel

vehicles.



6. References1) NREL, National laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable

Energy, LLC.

2) DoE Alternative Fuels Data Center on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Realm on basis of

Energy Policy ACT 2005

3) Non-conventional energy source G D Rai 2006 edition

4) Blog for various Fuel Cell Works carried out over world with their details of

operation and status on research

5) Note on Hydrogen Stations from California’s Hydrogen Transportation Initiatives,

Air Resource Board

6) Review and Prototype performance of hydrogen fuel vehicle from VOLVO CAR

(GROUP GLOBAL NEWSROOM), Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan and Toyota

Mirai (2015) hydrogen fuel cell vehicle review

7) Note on Hydrogen vehicle From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia


Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

Engineering

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