By

M.Ramesh
 In modern Area the main emphasis is on conserving energy and
environment.
 Everyone has to be very cautious in daily life so as to preserve our
resources.
 The non-conventional energy resources are diminishing and
environment is getting polluted.
 Hence hydrogen can be used as an alternative fuel to preserve
both energy and environment.
 This seminar emphasis on hydrogen as a very useful fuel, hydrogen
car, properties of hydrogen and the various reactions of hydrogen.
 It clearly outlines the concepts and modifications needed so as to
use hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.
 “An old idea whose time has come”
Fuel cells invented in 1838 by Swiss scientist
Christian Friedrich Schonbein.
 No pollution emitted.
 PEM FCs ideal for light-duty vehicles, buildings &
much smaller applications.
 Fuel cells are similar to batteries, but designed for
continuous replenishment of energy via external fuel.
 Many different types of fuel cells, most common will
likely be the PEM FC .
 Hydrogen and oxygen in, water vapor and liquid
water out.
 Typical output is about 0.8 volts.
 On the anode side, hydrogen
diffuses to the anode catalyst
where it dissociates into
protons and electrons.
 The protons are conducted
through the membrane to the
cathode, but the electrons are
forced to travel in an external
circuit (supplying power)
because the membrane is
electrically insulating.
 On the cathode catalyst, oxygen molecules react
with the electrons (which have travelled through
the external circuit) and protons to form water.

 In
this example, the only waste product is water
vapor and/or liquid water.
• Hydrogen Production
Almost all of the
hydrogen produced in the
U.S. today is by steam
reforming of natural gas
Produce hydrogen
directly from new nuclear
 R&D into several new methods:
oBiological Water Splitting
oPhoto electrochemical Water Splitting
oReforming of Biomass and Wastes
oSolar Thermal Water Splitting
oRenewable Electrolysis
• The Hydrogen Highway
World’s first hydrogen refueling station opened in
Iceland in 2003.
Hydrogen Sources
 Cars
 Buses
 Space Travel & Exploration
 Airplanes
 Submarines
 Off-grid Power Supply
 Combined Heat & Power
 from Refinement

to Distribution

to Car
 from Generation
via Transmission

to Car and Distribution

While fuel cells are potentially highly efficient, three
major obstacles exist in the development of a fuel cell-
powered hydrogen car.

 The first problem is that hydrogen has a very low

density. Even when the fuel is stored as a liquid in
a pressurized tank as a gas, the amount of energy
that can be stored in the space available is limited.
 The second major problem that used to plague
hydrogen fuel cells involves the high cost of making
reliable fuel cells that would provide electric power in a
hydrogen car.

 The third "problem" is due to the fact that while

hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier, it is not
an energy source. It still must be produced from fossil
fuels, or from some other energy source, with a net
loss of energy.
 Hydrogen gives energy storage
 Microcab- fuel cell recharges battery
 Smaller battery

BENEFITS OF HYBRID FC vehicle

 Small fuel cell
 Lighter + cheaper batteries
 No deep discharge ; long life
 Fast refuel
So, what does all this mean?
Fuel economy of major FCVs
2.5

2.0
Fuel consumption (MJ/km)

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Vehicle mass (kg)
 Electric cars are coming

 CABLED project is demonstrating

 Hydrogen cars can solve problems

long range
rapid refill