8/10/2019 Fuel Synopsis
2/3
FUTURE SOURCE OF ENERGY
FUEL CELL
ABSTRACT
Presently worlds energy needs is largely met by fossil fuels.
Rapid industrialization and economic
growth witnessed in the past century demanded large amount of
energy and this resulted in faster
depletion of fossil reserves. In future, not far from now, the
fossil fuels will become scarce and costly.
Other disadvantage is the environmental degradation. Still
energy needs are growing in developing
countries at a steady rate. Hence, mankind is continuously
searching for a lasting solution for energy
needs which will also be environmentally friendly. Fuel cells
could be a major and necessary source of
energy within a decade. They have great potential as the basic
elements of large and small stationary
power plants and as the source of electricity for vehicles and
smaller devices. Their size and shape are
flexible and adaptable. They are modular, have no moving parts,
operate without combustion, are
comparatively efficient and reliable, and are nearly silent,
generally do not pollute the environment, and
are quite safe.
The future of power and transportation will change dramatically
when fuel cells become the main
producers of clean energy. The car will no longer be an
environmental burden, and the electrical grid will
be subdivided to the neighborhood and building level. The
quality and reliability of this alternative energy
source will be superior to the current grid design. Fuel cells
and hydrogen technology will make all of this
possible, and with little or no pollution.
INTRODUCTION
Fuel cells are important future sources of electrical power and
could contribute to a reduction in the
dependence on fossil fuels. They are electrochemical devices
similar to a battery and consist of a
container, an anode, a cathode, catalysts, an intervening
electrolyte, and an attached electrical circuit. In
most fuel cell systems, hydrogen is supplied to the anode and
oxygen to the cathode which results in the
production of electricity, water, and heat. Fuel cells are
comparatively efficient and reliable, have no
moving parts, operate without combustion, and are modular and
scale-able.
Every fuel cell also has an electrolyte, which carries
electrically charged particles from one electrode to
the other, and a catalyst, which speeds the reactions at the
electrodes.
Hydrogen is the basic fuel, but fuel cells also require oxygen.
One great appeal of fuel cells is that they
generate electricity with very little pollutionmuch of the
hydrogen and oxygen used in generating
electricity ultimately combines to form a harmless byproduct,
namely water.
