Fuel Cells: Technology to Transform Everyday Life


The forthcoming Hydrogen Economy is on the horizon and approaching faster than most people realize. Imagine such a future. Reduced anthropogenic effects of air pollution from fossil fuel combustion. Cell phones and laptops whose battery life is measured in days instead of hours. Vehicles operating silently and emitting harmless water vapor. Individual homes generating their electricity and heat independent from the utility grid. It might sound unrealistic, but fuel cells and fuel cell technology are making the Hydrogen Economy a reality. Fuel cells will supply the energy that a global society requires to support the growing number of people who are demanding a higher quality of life.

Fuel cells and hydrogen will provide power for sensitive electronic equipment, computer centers, credit card processing centers, jails, cellular towers, mining equipment, banks, schools, hospitals, sophisticated manufacturing, entertainment complexes, communication centers, navigation equipment, airports, road signs, defense installations, hotels, urban transit buses, heavy-duty trucks, personal vehicles and remote sites requiring power.

Fuel cell technology encompasses many different specific technologies all based on the same principal of generating electricity through electrochemical reactions.

Different Types of Fuel Cells
  Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Phosphoric Acid Molten Carbonate Solid Oxide
Electrolyte Ion Exchange Membrane Phosphoric Acid Alkali Carbonates Mixture Yttria Stabilized Zirconia
Operating Temp. °C 80 200 650 1,000
Charge Carrier H+ H+ CO3= O=
Electrolyte State Solid Immobilized Liquid Immobilized Liquid Solid
Cell Hardware Carbon or Metal Based Graphite Based Stainless Steel Ceramic
Catalyst Platinum Platinum Nickel Perovskites
Cogeneration Heat None Low Quality High High
% Fuel Cell Efficiency <40 40-45 50-60 50-60


Fuel Cell Technological Forecast

As displayed by the chart above, the characteristics of each type of fuel cell differ in: operating temperature, available heat, tolerance to thermal cycling, power density, tolerance to fuel impurities, etc... Different characteristics of the fuel cells determine which particular technology is suitable for specific applications. The transportation industry has adopted the lower temperature and fast start-up characteristics of the PEM fuel cell. The PEM fuel cell with its high power density, temperature tolerances and fast load response is the ideal, environmentally friendly, replacement for the familiar internal combustion engine. The fuel cells with higher operating temperature are the preeminent choice for stationary applications. Designed to run continuously, start-up times are inconsequential and the high-grade waste heat provides for water heating and space heating/cooling.

The maturity of fuel cell technology varies amongst the different types of fuel cells. The fuel cells being developed for the transportation industry have had the highest level of research and development. The entire auto industry is racing to build and market the first fuel cell car to meet the stringent air quality standards being considered all over the United States and the ones already enacted by California, Delaware, New York and Massachusetts. The demand for low emission cars mandated by the fore mentioned states is estimated to be between 4 and 5 million vehicles a year.

The development of fuel cells designed for stationary applications is accelerating as utility companies move forward into the era of distributed generation and deregulation. Fuel cells, when used in distributed generation applications, avoid the permitting costs and distribution losses associated with a centralized electricity generating station. At the same time fuel cells have achieved efficiencies up to 90% when the waste heat is utilized for heating/cooling or to drive a conventional turbine. The increased efficiencies reduced permitting costs and the elimination of transmission losses result in utilities becoming more efficient and better able to serve the needs of their customers. Currently, private industry and the federal government are involved in the design and testing of stationary fuel cells with a few companies in commercial production of their design.