Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles
FUEL CELLS & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLESThe history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the 19th century. Since then the development and usage of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of the development of fuel cells:William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839. General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells. Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA. The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe). All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers. Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.
Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles. Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.AdvantagesFuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases Because fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system DisadvantagesEnergizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits.
They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:Ethanol Propane Natural gas Biodiesel Electricity Hydrogen At this point, it's anyone's guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.? 2004 AllAboutHybridCars.com. Any reproduction of this article in any manner is prohibited without the consent of AllAboutHybridCars.com.
We give permission to use this article on your website or e-zine if you reproduce it exactly as it appears here including this notice. Visit www.AllAboutHybridCars.com/eBook.htm to order your FREE report, "7 Critical Facts Everyone should Know Before Buying a Hybrid Car.".
Andrea Susan Glass, founder of WritersWay and All About Hybrid Cars, helps clients reach their writing and marketing goals with effective articles, press releases, newsletters, Web site copy, eBooks and books. An award-winning author for "Street Smart Secrets to Auto Care You Can Trust," she has written books, eBooks and articles on subjects ranging from animals and auto repair to singles and spirituality.Alternative Energy Series Water - The Perfect Fuel
As a freshman in high school, I failed chemistry class due to an extreme disinterest in the entire subject. I do recall a demonstration in which the teacher hooked a large one and a half volt battery to a glass and wire electrolyzer that transformed water into separated hydrogen and oxygen. I would later learn that commercial hydrogen and oxygen producers also used this method in an inefficient manner that requires more energy than the fuel produced can generate through combustion.In the late eighties I would learn that a boy genius in California learned to make hydrogen from water efficiently with a twelve volt battery and standard auto electrical system, during the 1970s. Around 1990, my machinist neighbor built a hydrogen generator that did not work due to defects in the plans the boy genius had drawn up in prison when he was no longer a boy.My neighbor was not interested in correcting the defect when it was discovered and I was only a bit disappointed. My father was a hobby style...
Alternative Energy Series Water - The Perfect Fuel
Electrolysis > Alternative Energy Series Water - The Perfect Fuel
Tank Floor & Tank Bottom Corrosion Problems - Microbially Influenced Corrosion
We caught up with Jeff Colner of Armor Shield Tank Lining & Repair, a national network of specially trained tank repair, lining and coating professionals.
The network, around since the late 1960's, has lined thousands of fuel, water and chemical storage tanks for such companies as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and Texaco as well as hundreds of municipalities, water districts and private companies.
Jeff had been a good source of information in the past for such topics as compatibility of new gasoline blends with older tanks, and the plight of aged fuel oil storage tanks located under big buildings in our cities.
When we spoke with him he had just returned from visiting a site in the southwest where one of Armor Shield's crews were lining the bottom of three large aboveground tanks used to store fuel oil for a power plant. The first question he was asked was "Why do fuel oil and gasoline storage tanks corrode mostly on the bottom?"His initial answer was quick and...
Electrolysis > Tank Floor & Tank Bottom Corrosion Problems - Microbially Influenced Corrosion
Permanent Cosmetic Convention in Atlantic City Focuses on Technician Education and Safe Protocols
Permanent Cosmetics is a largely unregulated field, with little or no formal standards or licensing. Consumer questions abound on the safety and quality of treatments and how to gauge a technician's qualifications. As more and more woman discover permanent cosmetics, the most common question is, "Are You licensed?"
Often they are told, "Yes" or "I am certified." Truth be told, almost no one is, because few states offer or require
licensing or education before performing permanent cosmetic application.
Many individuals in the field are concerned about setting standards, such as Roxanne Zarafonetis, CNMT, PA who is a Johns Hopkins Hospital trained Nuclear Medicine Technologist who entered the field of permanent cosmetics 15 years ago before todays' unregulated
"certification" schools, and allergic pigments were on the scene.In an effort to help set allied health compatible standards, Ms. Zarafonetis has acted as an advisor to the Board of Cosmetology...
Electrolysis > Permanent Cosmetic Convention in Atlantic City Focuses on Technician Education and Safe Protocols
Laser Hair Removal
There are many different techniques to remove unwanted hair. Some of these include waxing, shaving, coils, electrolysis and laser. Although each has its advantages and disadvantages, they all perform the same function. That is removing unwanted hair. One such technique that has become quite popular these days is laser hair removal.
This technique works by using a laser on the hair at a specified wavelength that emits a specialized light. The light from the laser is passed through the skin and is absorbed by the hair follicle. This light actually targets the melanin (colour) in the hair follicle and damages it, thereby causing the hair to fall out. Interestingly, the use of certain laser for removing hair has been approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the technique is popular, there are advantages and disadvantages of using this method.Advantages of Laser Hair RemovalThe laser hair removal process has advantages in that larger areas can be treated.
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Laser Hair Removal
Electrolysis > Laser Hair Removal
Electrolysis
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