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Introduction: Fuel Cells – The Hydrogen Revolution?

http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm

Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Carbon Dioxide Concentrations (1751-2004)Global energy challenges:

• Volatility in oil prices and sustained shortfalls due to far-reaching geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.

• Rising of CO and other GHGs

• Rapid economic growth and energy consumption in China and India

• Global climate change by majority of mainstream scientists’ beliefs.

U.S. Anthropogenic GHGs Emissions by Gas, 2006

(Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)

Fuel-Cell Technology

Gas Emission Comparison

Fuel-Cell TechnologyHistory:

Year Event1983 William Grove, British physicist proposed fuel-

cell idea.

1950s

Fuel-cell research was accelerated and driven by the U.S. space program’s needs.

Since 1950

Fuel cells have also been used in military equipment and scientific applications in locations like the South Pole.

Type of Fuel cell:1.Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)2.Phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC)3.Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)4.Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)

Type of Fuel cell for the transportation:PEM ( Proton change membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane)

Fuel-Cell TechnologyComponent of PEM fuel cell:Consist of seven parts – All are assembled in a few mm

thick. - Proton exchange membrane: made of Teflon - Two electrodes: Carbone Anode (-) and Platinum Cathode (+) - Two porous backing for each electrode: made of carbon

paper/cloth. - Two exterior plates: made of stainless steelChemical processes:Generate electricity by electrochemical reaction

Oxygen (O2) + Hydrogen (H2) H2Oatmosphere Cryogenically cooled

tanks

Performance of PEM:• Each PEM produces ~ 0.7 volts of electricity.• Multiple fuel cells generates 200-300 volts to power a large electric motor.• Latest generation of fuel-cell in 2003: - Comparable in size & weight - More expensive 10 times, $30,000 than ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), $3,000

alternativefuels.about.com/.../PEM-Fuel-Cell.htm

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Introduction: Fuel Cells – The Hydrogen Revolution?

Internal Challenges:• High costs of development both viable fuel-cell technology and infrastructure for producing and distributing hydrogen.

• Ambiguous supporting from federal government

• Cost $10-20 billion to develop a network of hydrogen refueling stations.

• In 2003, GM spent over $1 billion in fuel-cell R&D but had yet to commercialize any its vehicles.

Why?

•Ambiguous the proposed level of supporting from federal government to overcome the “Chicken – and – egg dynamic.

• Future role of fuel cells was too important to let market forces alone dictate the timing of what it hoped would be a “ hydrogen revolution.” – by Bush administration.

• Past government in the U.S. and abroad had a questionable track record when sponsoring technologies.

The US Government and the Hydrogen Economy

2002, Bush administration "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap" "National Vision of America's Transition to a

Hydrogen Economy-To 2030 and Beyond.“ October 5, 2003

"hydrogen highway“ “elected officials across the political spectrum

were beginning to believe that government intervention in facilitating hydrogen-fueled transportation was necessary and desirable.”

System development of hydrogen economy

Issues of Hydrogen Economy

• In 2002, National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap proposed seven critical barriers to the successful development of hydrogen economy.

– Production

– Delivery

– Storage

– Conversion

– Applications

– Education and Outreach

– Codes and Standards• Balkanized approach• Globally coordinated approach

European Union and Japanese Efforts

In EU and Japan government agencies were funding both fuel-cell basic science and enabling infrastructure technology Japanese efforts were considered to be ahead of US and EU Compared to US and Japan; EU efforts were more focused on demonstration and pilot

projects

In 2004, there was not significant difference across US, Japan and EU in supporting hydrogen based transportation.

Europeans had greater incentive to adopt hydrogen based transportation technologies.

Japan 4.62

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Oil/idUSTRE4BO0AC20081225

Other Actors

Apart from customers there are numerous groups that have effect on development of hydrogen based economy

Oil companies

Oil-producing nations

Automobile manufacturers

Future ?

Called for $5.3 billions by US government funding over the next 5 years (from 2002)

Could the government afford it?

Could it afford not to make it?

What is the picture like today ?

Technical progress (1):

Reduced cost of hydrogen mass production: from $5 to $3 per gallon gasoline equivalent (gge).

Reduced high-volume manufacturing cost of automotive fuel cell systems from $275/kW in 2002 to $73/kW in

2008

improved the projected durability of fuel cell systems in vehicles from 950 hours in 2006 to 1900 hours in 2008

Identified new materials to increase hydrogen storage capacity by more than 50 %

(1) Congress Report on “Hydrogen and Fuel Cell activities, Progress and Plan”, by US DoE, January 2009

Hydrogen program targets

Congress Report on “Hydrogen and Fuel Cell activities, Progress and Plan”, by US DoE, January 2009

Yes, but …

With current technology hydrogen fueled cars would be more than twice as expensive as internal combustion engine systems.

Today’s fuel cell cars can only last for 57,000 miles, one third of gasoline cars.

The industry failed to meet the goal of 100,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2010, as specified in EPACT section 811(a)(4).

Can US government afford it ? From 2003 to 2008, US government had invested $1.2 billions in hydrogen

economy program.

However, to achieve goal of 2.5 million hydrogen fueled cars in the US by 2020 would require the government to pump at least $55 billion in subsidies over the next 15 years to make hydrogen vehicles cost competitive with conventional cars and trucks (1)

The Los Angeles Times wrote, in February 2009, "Hydrogen fuel-cell technology won't work in cars.... Any way you look at it, hydrogen is a lousy way to move cars”.

On May 5, 2009 the US Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, announced that since fuel cell hydrogen vehicles "will not be practical over the next 10 to 20 years", the U.S. government will "cut off funds" for development of hydrogen vehicles, although the DoE will continue to fund research related to stationary Fuel cells (2)

(1) http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/2008-07-18-10.asp

(2) The Newyork Times, May 7, 2009

Budget cuts on Hydrogen research

Congress Report on “Hydrogen and Fuel Cell activities, Progress and Plan”, by US DoE, January 2009

Can US government afford not to make it?

Europe and Japan have stronger motives to develop hydrogen economy than the US !

07/05/09: FuelCellEurope and VDMA Fuel Cells Announce Cooperation to Foster Commercialisation of Fuel Cells in Germany and Europe (1)

23/03/09: Royal Mail, Cenex, PostEurop and FuelCellEurope Join Forces To Accelerate Development Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Postal Vans (1)

Leading automakers in and outside Japan and Japanese energy companies have agreed on a scenario which sees commercialization of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen stations beginning in 2015 (2)

(1) www.fuelcelleurope.org . The European association of fuel cell manufacturers(2) www.fuelcells.org

Discussion questions

What should have been done differently ?

What should be done ?

References

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AppendixHow does it work?:1.Store H2 flow through channels in exterior plate and

into anode, usually using Pt.2.Resulting positive charge of H+, it is pulled through

the membrane to the Cathode. - The membrane prevent e- from traveling directly through

the cathode.3.The e- is forced into the external circuit that traveled

around the membrane then into the cathode. - This circuit is used to provide electricity to an electric

motor, a rechargeable battery, or another electric-power device

4.H+ and e- reach the cathode, atmosphere oxygen (O2) is forced into the cathode by a compressor.

- Pt catalyst in the cathode split the oxygen molecule in to 2 oxygen atoms.

5.O- & H+ bond to from H2O and small amount of heat - Water and Heat are exhausted into the atmosphere as

only by product of the process.Note:Pt is one of the world’s most precious metals. It is a barrier to reducing fuel-cell costsPt cost $865 per ounce – twice the price of goal.

The problems of Oil Age

Global warming Supply safety Price swings

High oil prices could cause recessions in the developed country

A source of war

The Problems of Hydrogen Economy

The chicken-and-egg problems Viable Fuel-cell technology Infrastructure for producing and distributing

hydrogen• Cost $10-$20 billion in the US for a distribution

system Public concern about safety