Hydrogen Fuel Cell Research Paper Free Essays - PhDessay.com.

Hydrogen fuel cells to power vehicles are desirable, experts say, because hydrogen is a renewable fuel that can be used to create electricity to run cars. A chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen produces the electric power, and when pure hydrogen is used, the only emission from the tailpipe is harmless water vapor.

Hydrogen can be used instead of petrol and diesel in future with the help of research and development in technology. It is possible to manufacture the fuel from numerous sources, some of which can be considered renewable, and its clean burning properties make it a desirable alternative fuel. Hydrogen-Introduction Hydrogen (H) is the simplest.

Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel - Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel What is Hydrogen. The simplest and lightest fuel is hydrogen gas (H2). Hydrogen is in a gaseous state at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. Hydrogen is being explored for use in combustion engines and fuel cell electric vehicles.

I will explain alternative sources for fuel or energy for vehicles that are already in use or that have been proposed. With each source I will discuss the pros and then the cons of it.. The first alternative fuel source I will discuss is Biodiesel. Biodiesel a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources.

Also, hydrogen in normal temperature is gas and to be used as fuel it should be squeezed in high pressures so it is somewhat difficult to contain. Fuel cell cars are definitely a technology to watch for. It has the potential to minimize the use of energy while reducing harmful emissions at the same time.

Alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol and biodiesel have numerous advantages and disadvantages regarding environmental and societal impacts. The replacement of fossil fuels with alternative fuels could result in a decrease of CO2 emissions, decrease air pollution and reduce acid rain (Evans, 2007).

In all fuel cells there are two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, with an electrolyte, a membrane capable of moving ions, in between the two (Sorenson 73). During their operation, hydrogen fuel is injected into the anode side, while oxygen, usually from the air.

There are claims that the production and distribution of ethanol as an alternative motor vehicle fuel source will in fact increase greenhouse gas emissions over those generated by conventional fuels. Large areas of agricultural land would need to be used to grow suitable crops, leading to soil erosion, deforestation fertiliser run off and salinity.

That is where hydrogen fuel cells come into the picture. Rather than depending on a foreign countries oil, to provide fuel, businesses today should look to hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. (tags: Hydrogen Cars Environmental Automobiles Essays) Term Papers 694 words (2 pages).

However, elemental hydrogen is not naturally occurring and must be produced from H-containing compounds such as methane. It is being used increasingly as a fuel source for fuel-cell vehicles. Propane: This small, unbranched hydrocarbon, which exists in liquid form at room temperature.

With respect to the annual production of hydrogen fuel, transportation of hydrogen to the refueling stations is a major challenge, but with the recent comprehensive research by NREI, transporting energy to the stations is made possible by the mixture of both hydrogen and natural gas in the natural gas pipelines, and this comes with a low mixing rates of 3% to 5%.