PHENOMENON fuell cell becomes important because it can eliminate the concerns of society about the dangers of environmental pollution due to burning fossil fuels. Currently, fuel cells are considered as a power source that is very clean, environmentally friendly, safe and have a very small risk. In some countries, many fuel cells applied to drive motor vehicles.
Fuel cell system is an electrical energy generating hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons (fossil) and there is a possibility one day become fuel. These systems convert chemical energy directly (hydrocarbons) into electrical energy.
Technically, the fuel cell consists of two plate electrodes flanking the electrolyte. Oxygen is passed on one side of the electrode, while hydrogen is passed to the other electrode side so as to produce electricity, water, and heat.
The way it works, hydrogen is channeled through the anode catalyst. Oxygen (from air) enters the cathode catalyst. Encouraged by a catalyst, hydrogen atoms split into protons and electrons take separate paths within the cathode. Protons pass through the electrolyte. The electrons create a separate flow. It can be used before the electrons back into the cathode to join the hydrogen and oxygen, and form water molecules.
Hydrocarbons
Fuell fuel cell system includes a hydrogen reformer who can take advantage of all types of hydrocarbons, such as natural gas, methanol, or even a gas / petrol. Given the fuel cell work in chemistry and not combustion like conventional engines, the emissions are very low. This compared with a conventional engine the cleanest ones.
The use of fuel cells as the power producer has developed a long time. It was more than 200 fuel cell system installed in various worlds. Among others in hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, offices, schools, airports, and electricity providers. However, it is its use in a motor vehicle that is still something new.
Accommodate hydrogen for use in cars is not easy. Currently, hydrogen is carried in pressurized cylinders, which can withstand pressures up to 10,000 pounds per square inch (psi) or 700 atmospheres.
To carry a tube with a pressure of it, is like carrying around a bomb, of course, needed special security. If the canister to explode, you can imagine what happened.
It seems that Daimler-Chrysler, an industry leading motor vehicle manufacturer in the world, last week claimed to have successfully overcome the problems brought by these hydrogen storage tube. If not, of Daimler-Chrysler will not produce in bulk.
Can be applied
Small-scale fuel cell systems and are, in fact may be considered to be applied in several countries. We can adopt what has been done by the United States and Japan by providing small electricity generators.
Worldwide market potential for fuel cell electric generator as a power station (power plant) between 10-30 MW is quite large. This is based on estimates of electric energy needs fuell cell until the year 2010 throughout the world, namely 10 000 gigawatts (GW). Including for the European Union about 500 GW.