There are several possibilities for furthering
the efficiency and energy output of fuel cell systems that could be
incorporated into the processes used for fuel cell energy
production. Below are three areas for exploration in this relatively
new arena:
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1. In hydrolysis a covalent bond is formed
between the oxygen of the water molecule and the carbon atom.
The carbon-oxygen bond breaks and hydrogen atoms become detached
from the water molecule. In a fuel cell, hydrogen is fed into
the proton exchange membrane and oxygen is used as a catalyst.
The by-product of the fuel cell is H2O (water). If the
by-product H2O from a fuel cell was used in a hydrolysis
reaction, it could be used to produce more hydrogen to sustain
the fuel cell. This would take a carbon based physical catalyst
for the hydrolysis that would last until the physical substance
no longer contained hydrogen. A substance that reabsorbed some
of the hydrogen could theoretically sustain a fuel cell
indefinitely.
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2. Fuel cell energy byproduct water can
also be converted to run hydrostatic pumping mechanisms,
furthering the energy output of the system incorporating fuel
cell production. By-product water does not have to be copious to
feed this sort of pump. Hydrostatic pumps are
positive-displacement mechanisms which means that the amount of
liquid delivered for each pumping cycle is constant and there is
not substantial release of waste liquid from the process. A
small quantity and velocity of liquid can be used to produce and
sustain energy output from the pumping mechanism, as it is a
closed system.
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3. Fuel cell insulation has been, at this
time minimally explored. Fuel cell thermal conductivities were
measured in the study by Preben J. S. Vie and Signe Kjelstrup,
presented in 2003 in “Thermal conductivities from temperature
profile in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell”. This study
suggests that fuel cells could be insulated at four points: a.)
the wall of the diffusion layer on the anode side and cathode
side, (two points) b.) the anode catalyst surface and c.) the
membrane. When determining the best way to reduce thermal
output from fuel cell utilization, all four touch-points are
possible areas for insulation that could be considered
separately instead of questioning an insular decision for the
entire fuel cell.
At a time when renewable and sustainable energy
is a growing concern in our economies and ecosystems, fuel cells are
holding out promising returns. Fuel cells are clean, efficient, and
easier to sustain than traditional energy conversion systems. While
the Energy community begins to explore the uses and benefits of fuel
cell technology, it is necessarily a good idea to look toward the
future of improved and possible developments ahead. The questions
arising are not about using fuel cell technology now that it is
available. Instead, most inquiries are related to practical
implementation and useful applications. The ideas above are areas of
exploration that could benefit both end-users and producers with
serious results for a fuel cell future already on its way today.
Resources:
1.http://hydraulicspneumatics.com/200/TechZone/HydraulicPumpsM/Article/False/6401/TechZone-HydraulicPumpsM
2.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm
3. “Thermal conductivities from temperature
profiles in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell” ( Vie, Preben J. S.
and Kjelstrup, Signe; Norwegian University of Science and
Technology; October 21, 2003)
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