Jan 18 2007
Advantage of Fuel Cell Technology
Not Emitted Damaged Emission (Zero Emission)
A fuel cell system just only emitted water vapour when used pure hydrogen as fuel. Otherwise, when using hydrogen from hydrocarbon reforming (like: coal, natural gas, etc), we still need conduct the emission testing to determine a system have zero emission category. According to standard that released by United Technologies Corporation (UTC) on 2002, a fuel cell system categorized as zero emission technology when just emitted smallest air pollutants, and bellow showing the parameter:
NOx ≤ 1 ppm
SO2 ≤ 1 ppm
CO2 ≤ 2 ppm
The table show the air pollution which emitted by some type of fuel cells. Note: PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane), PAFC (Posporic Acid Fuel Cell), SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell), MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell).
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Beside that, fuel cell very quietly when operate, except noise from support system, such as pump, fan, compressor, etc.
Highest Efficiency
Because of fuel cell use electrochemical reaction in energy conversion - not like in carnot engine that using internal combustion reaction, hence the fuel cell efficiency not limited by operational temperature (not limited by carnot cycle). So that efficiency on fuel cell higher than conventional carnot engine, as you can see bellow:
Rapid Load-Following
Fuel cell have good characteristic to follow changing of load. When Fuel cell with pure hydrogen implemented on mechanical engine (like: DC electric motor), it showingthe quickly respons to follow changing of load.
Low Operational Temperature
Fuel cell system very suitable when implemented on automotive industry that operate at low temperature. The advantage of fuel cell are just need few minute of warmup time, reduction of operational risk at high temperature (like: cracking, material melting point, breaking, etc), improvement of thermodynamic effiiciency.
Reduction on Energy Transformation
When fuel cell used to generate electric energy, it just need few step of energy transformation, which is chemical energy to electric energy. Different with conventional carnot engine that need more step of energy transformation to generate electric energy, which are :
Chemical Energy → Thermal Energy → Mechanical Energy → Electric Energy
Fuel cell tha used on electric motor has same step energy transformation compared with carnot engine, but fuel cell promise higher effiiciency on energy tranformation.
Shortly of Hydrogen Filling
Fuel cell system not need recharge treatment like at battery. Fuel cell system just need hydrogen that filling on hydrogen storage and this process faster that recharge a battery. You can imagine filling hydrogen like when you filling gasoline at filling station on your town. Beside that, battery can not installed on vehicle with the big quantity because will increase load on that vehicle.
References:
- Matthew M. Mench, Chao-Yang Wang and Stefan T. Thynell., An Introduction to Fuel Cells and Related Transport Phenomena, Dept of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA, pp: 3 - 4, 24/05/2001
- David Keenan, Fuel Cell Companies, Minnesota Futurists Financial Futures SIG, USA, 10/01/2004.
- Javit Drake, Fuel Cells: Concept Today, Practical Tomorrow?, Gillette Technical Center Needham, 29/03/2005.
- Anna Monis Shipley and R. Neal Elliott, Stationary Fuel Cells: Future Promise, Current Type, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington D.C, March 2004.
- Bruce Tonn and Das Sujit, An Assessment of Platinum Availability for Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicles, Oak Ridge, Tenn.: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2001.
- United Technologies Corporation, Benefits of the PC 25 Fuel Cell Power Plant, South Windsor Conn.: United Technologies Corporation, 2002.
- Bluestein, Joel (Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc.), Personal Communication, October 2002.
- Stefan Geiger, Fuel Cells in Austria, Italy and Switzerland � A Survey of current Developments, www.fuelcelltoday.com, 2004.
- Anonim, Fuel Cell: Technology Comparison, 09/10/2006.
- Anonim, Advantages of Fuel Cell Vehicles, 09/10/2006
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