Hydrogen Fuel Cells Vs. Gasoline Essays -- Energy Power Global Warming

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Vs. Gasoline Whos Down With HFC?ABSTRACTThe worlds oil supply is a diminishing nonrenewable resource. Soon, a new elicit forautomobiles will be needed. Hydrogen fuel cells may very fountainhead become the chief replacement forgasoline in our society.INTRODUCTIONIn our busy world today, we oft find ourselves surrounded by vehicles. But how oftendo we ponder about by which means these vehicles are running? Vehicles are fueled by gasoline,a gradually diminishing resource. As a replacement for this fuel, scientists have beenexperimenting with a new technology called hydrogen fuel cells.Swiss scientist Christian Friedrich Schnbein developed the principle behind the fuel cellin 1838. Then in 1932, the first successful fuel cells were engineered by Francis Thomas Baconof Britain. The main type of hydrogen fuel cell is the Polymer Electrolyte tissue layer, or ProtonExchange Membrane (PEM). In a PEM, electrons are separated from hydrogen atoms (at theanode), forming posi tively charged hydrogen atoms, or protons, and single electrons. Then theprotons are drawn toward the oxygen atoms (at the cathode) on the other side of the membrane,where the electrons are forced to travel an alternate route to reach the hydrogen and oxygen. Bytraveling this alternate route, the electrons form a current, ergo energy. Once the protons andelectrons meet with the oxygen, the byproducts created are water, heat, and some impurities(depending on the purity of the applied hydrogen). See Diagram 1 below (How PEM Fuel CellsWork).HFC 2Which fuel supply is more efficient hydrogen fuel cells or gasoline? To help reach averdict, we will be comparing their availability, cost and efficiency, and befoulment pot... ...en Fuel a Clean and Secure Energy Future, The White House,Retrieved August 2, 2005, fromhttp//www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030206-2.html2. Fuel Cell, July 31, 2005, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, Retrieved August 2, 2005,from http//en.wikipedia.org/w iki/Fuel_cell3. How PEM Fuel Cells Work, Retrieved July 21, 2005, fromhttp//www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_PEM.shtml4. Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program, U.S. part ofEnergy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Retrieved July 21, 2005, fromhttp//www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/5. Hydrogen Production and Delivery, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, RetrievedJuly 21, 2005, from http//www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/proj_production_delivery.html6. Tokyo Gas, Retrieved August 2, 2005, from http//www.tokyogas.co.jp/pefc_e/image_add/wh-46_01.gif