Alcohol Fuel Cells as an Alternative Solution to Foreign Oil Dependence Agnes B. Rooke

Alcohol Fuel Cells as an Alcohol Fuel Cells as an Alternative Solution to Alternative Solution to

Foreign Oil DependenceForeign Oil Dependence

Agnes B. Rooke

Alcohol Based Fuel Cells – Alcohol Based Fuel Cells – Agnes B. RookeAgnes B. Rooke 22

Alcohol Fuel Cells as a Alcohol Fuel Cells as a Viable Alternative to the Viable Alternative to the

Internal Combustion EngineInternal Combustion Engine


Policy Should Address:

• Reduce dependence on foreign oil

• Increasing demand on transportation infrastructure

• Address the availability of refueling sites; promote cooperation both on a technical and fiscal level between government and industry (tax incentives)

• Reduce air pollution

• Need for direct government involvement in the fuel cell industry

• Reduce noise pollution

• Benefit farm communities who produce Biomass feedstock

• Stimulate the technological development of fuel cells


Summary of ConclusionsSummary of Conclusions• Foreign oil dependency can be reduced with fuel cells

• Environmental air pollution can be reduced with fuel cells

• Fuel cell vehicles produce less noise than traditional vehicles

• The need for Biomass borne fuels such as Ethanol would stimulate the economic development of rural farm communities

• Fuel cell research and development for transportation would also stimulate technological development of fuel cells in other areas, such as portable electrically powered devices


Summary of ConclusionsSummary of Conclusions• Vehicles using fuel cells are less expensive to maintain and operate then conventional internal combustion vehicles

• Vehicles utilizing alcohol fuels can benefit from the existing gasoline infrastructure


American Reliance on OilAmerican Reliance on Oil



Oxygen Hydrogen

Water

Carbon Dioxide

HydrocarbonCarbon Monoxide

Molecules used in a reformation fuel cell system


How a Fuel Cell WorksHow a Fuel Cell WorksReformationReformation

Hydrocarbons (such as Ethanol), Water (H2O) and Oxygen (O2) are processed

through a reformer to produce Hydrogen (H2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon

Monoxide (CO)


Hydrocarbon + Water + Oxygen


Carbon Monoxide + Carbon Dioxide + Hydrogen


How a Fuel Cell WorksHow a Fuel Cell WorksFurther Oxidation of Carbon to the DioxideFurther Oxidation of Carbon to the Dioxide

Additional water is now added to the system. This additional water serves to further oxidize the Carbon Monoxide into less harmful Carbon Dioxide. This “CO Conversion” step also produces an additional molecule of hydrogen in the process, thus increasing the efficiency of the system.


Residual Water is Utilized for CO Conversion


How a Fuel Cell WorksHow a Fuel Cell WorksRelease of Carbon Dioxide Release of Carbon Dioxide

Following the further oxidation of Carbon Monoxide, all the Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere as exhaust. At this point the resulting hydrogen is ready for use in the fuel cell.

Since the Carbon Dioxide produced during our reformation and oxidation process is part of the “living” carbon cycle, numerically speaking any additional carbon dioxide produced will be incorporated into our renewable Fuel Alcohol once new Biomass is grown.


Carbon Dioxide is Released into the Atmosphere


How a Fuel Cell WorksHow a Fuel Cell WorksHydrogen is Oxidized and Electrons FlowHydrogen is Oxidized and Electrons Flow

A catalytic reaction converts diatomic hydrogen into electrons and protons. The Protons (oxidized monoatomic hydrogen)

then pass through the semi-permeable membrane and into the cathode region of the cell. The resulting Electrons then pass

through a circuit that flows through a motor, where electrical potential energy is

converted into work.


Electrons Pass Through an Electric Motor to Produce Mechanical Energy


How a Fuel Cell WorksHow a Fuel Cell WorksElectrons and Protons Combine with OxygenElectrons and Protons Combine with Oxygen

The Electrons and Protons now recombine with oxygen from the

atmosphere to form water and heat


Electrons, Protons and Oxygen Combine

+ Oxygen


Water is Formed


Thermal Energy and Water are Released into the Environment


How a renewable Biomass Based Fuel How a renewable Biomass Based Fuel Actually Reduces Atmospheric Carbon Actually Reduces Atmospheric Carbon

Dioxide ContentDioxide ContentOne additional benefit for the use of fuel cells is a net negative contribution to the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Content. Since Alcohol based fuels are not petroleum based and originate from BioMass, they are both renewable and good for the environment.

Any Carbon Dioxide produced in the Fuel Cell process will simply be incorporated into new BioMass fuels that will be grown. The net negative contribution results because of grown BioMass that won’t be converted into useable fuel such as Cellulose and other plant fibers.


6CO2 + 12H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2

The Carbon Cycle in our Environment


Definition of Flash PointDefinition of Flash Point

The flash point of a fuel is the temperature at which vapor given off will ignite when an external flame is applied under specified test conditions. A flash point is defined to minimize fire risk during normal storage and handling.


Flash Point of Various Flash Point of Various HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons

• Hydrogen FP = -423 F

• Propane FP = -125 F

• Gasoline FP = -45 F

• Methanol FP = 52 F

• Ethanol FP = 55 F

Flash Point = FP


Properties of HydrogenProperties of Hydrogen• Will be stored as pressured gas in fuel cell vehicles; Liquid H2 is expensive and can’t easily be stored for long periods of time

• Storage vessel is bulky and expensive

• Hydrogen gas container must be strong enough to contain volatile hydrogen gas during a traffic accident


Properties of HydrogenProperties of Hydrogen

• Hydrogen must be produced and can’t directly be “harvested”

• Electrolysis of water and biomass / ethanol reformation are the most likely candidates for production of hydrogen

• Possesses an extremely low flash point (-423 F); therefore at any temperature on earth hydrogen could easily combust


Propane in a Fuel CellPropane in a Fuel Cell

• Propane is a non-renewable resource

• Propane has a low flash point and is more dangerous then fuels such as Methanol or Ethanol


Methanol in a Fuel CellMethanol in a Fuel Cell• Methanol can easily be stored in liquid form

• Methanol has a moderately high flash point

• Onboard reformation of methanol is required for the direct use of methanol in fuel cell vehicle

• Methanol is a renewable resource


Ethanol in a Fuel CellEthanol in a Fuel Cell • Ethanol is easily stored as a liquid

• Ethanol has a higher flash point then Methanol; thus it exhibits greater safety

• 75% Ethanol may be reformed onboard a fuel cell vehicle ($0.83 per gallon); wet Ethanol is cheep to produce

• Nearly pure Ethanol must now be added to Gasoline in some urban areas (Chicago etc.); This is expensive and is subsidized by the government through farm provisions


Chicago CTA BussesChicago CTA BussesOperating onboard reformed EthanolOperating onboard reformed Ethanol


•Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars; could also be made from low cost materials such as sawdust and waist paper

•Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley and wheat, which contain appreciable amounts of sugar, such as starch

•Ethanol can also be produced from “cellulosic biomass” such as trees and grasses, which contain cellulose, and it is called Bioethanol

•Today ethanol production facilities are located in 20 states, and have capacity to produce 2.5 Billion gallons per year

Ethanol Production


Methanol ProductionMethanol Production• Methanol is made from natural gas, landfill gas, sugar cane bagasse, coal, or wood chips


What are the benefits of Ethanol?•Reduces our dependence on foreign oil•Reduces air pollution•Is a renewable fuel•More then 3 billion has been invested in 60 ethanol production facilities•The Ethanol industry is responsible for more then 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, while it directly and indirectly adds more than$6 billion to the American economy each year•The demand for grain created by ethanol production increasesnet farm income more than $12 billion annually•Many farmers now own and operate ethanol plants, allowing them to add value to their own corn•Domestic ethanol production reduces demand for imported oil


• All petroleum hydrocarbon fuels cause increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels because they represent the combustion of fossilized carbon, thus adding additional Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere • By contrast, using renewable fuels, such as ethanol, does not increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The carbon dioxide formed during combustion is balanced by that absorbed during the annual growth of plants used to produce ethanol.

Carbon Dioxide Benefits


•Fuel Cell has no moving parts•Requires no oil for lubrication or general maintance•Not limited by the Carnot cycle or mechanical connections Involving friction•Reduced noise in operation limited only to the air compressor or fans•More comfortable then conventional vehicles: 1) no transmission for a smooth ride; 2) less noise; 3) no dirty exhaust; and 4) more interior room

Fuel Cell Automobile


•Device can obtain 40-50% efficiency in conversion of a fuel intouseable power (as opposed to approximately 18% efficiency for the average combustion engine)

•Wet Ethanol is cheap

•By 2008, a fleet of 3,000 fuel cell buses and 5,000 cars could consume about 18 million gallons of ethanol yearly

•Compressed gas cylinders used for hydrogen fuel cells weigh 20 times more then the fuel in them; in contrast light featherweight plasticcontainers will hold gallons of liquid ethanol and will not subtractfrom the passenger or cargo carrying capacity of the vehicle

Ethanol fuel cells technology


•“deployability gap” of another 10-15 years before a business case can be made for mass market fuel cell cars•Fuel cells need to receive a high priority for government research funding•Well targeted tax incentives such as the Senate CLEAR Act(Cleaner Efficient Automobiles Resulting From Advanced Car Technologies) will help advance clean vehicle technologies•Absence of market-wide requirements for higher fuel economy blocks progress on many vehicle technologies, including fuel cells•Intellectual property rights, such as patents rights can hinder cheap development of ethanol fuel cells

Technical and Policy Barriers


RFARFAThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced that According to the latest figures from Argonne National Laboratory, the use of ethanol-blended fuels reduced carbon dioxide- equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 4.3 million tons in the U.S.A. during 2002; this reduction is equivalent to removing the annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 636,000 cars from the roads

“By pursuing policies to increase the use of ethanol, we can not only enhance energy security and boost rural economic development; we can reduce air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions.”


Importance of the big oil companies and other Importance of the big oil companies and other large companies in Implementing large companies in Implementing

fuel cell technologyfuel cell technology•Oil companies need to help build up a national network of filling stations; alcohol fuels are dispensed just like gasoline•Modest capital expenditures are required to convert existing gasoline stations to alcohol operation •Oil companies have money and energy market know-how•States must develop uniform standards for the sector with the advice of oil companies•Some of the Companies working on fuel cells: General Motors,Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies, Ford, DaimlerChrysler,Chevron Texaco, PPL Corp., General Electric, DuPont, 3M, BASF, Siemens


General Motors Model VehiclesGeneral Motors Model Vehicles

•Cars with fuel cell technology will not have gas or break pedal•Stop, trust toward and backwards, speed control will be performed by using steering wheel only•engine will be quiet and smooth, driving compared to “floatingon air”•Target: year of 2010 when 1 mln cars put on the market•Price: cheap; ordinary car price, everybody should be able toafford the vehicle•Predict huge market; make trillions of $$$•Bush’s research funding to develop fuel cells around $ 3.6 billion


Ethanol Fuel Cells in other applicationsEthanol Fuel Cells in other applications

•In early 2004 Toshiba plans to use an alcohol fuel cell to power a laptop•Running time: 5 hours •Methanol will be used as a portable power source; to power the fuel cell the alcohol fuel is provided in small 50cc cartridges the size of a computer mouse •Cartridge is refillable•Average power output is 12-20W, and unused energy is stored in the fuel cell


Ethanol Fuel Cells in other applicationsEthanol Fuel Cells in other applications

•NEC and SONY are developing fuel cells that turn methanol directly into electricity and could have many times the capacity of current lithium-ion batteries•They use recently discovered forms of carbon-Fullerenes; •Use of fullerene sheets rolled into a microscopic cones, incorporating platinum atoms to catalyze the electrochemical reaction that rips methanol apart•Such cells are 20% more efficient than existing fuel cells•Could give mobile phones and laptops many weeks of operation before recharging•production: 2003-2005•This system could also be one day be used in vehicles


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Alcohol Fuel Cells as an Alternative Solution to Foreign Oil Dependence Agnes B. Rooke