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Fuel Cell Technology Research & DevelopmentThere are several types of fuel cells that have been developed recently. Fuel cells convert energy into electricity that provides a cleaner burning fuel which emits no pollution into the air. Fuel cell technologies have already proven to be life-changing for many people – and probably the world as well. But Research and Development activities must be ongoing. Research of fuel cells is revealing new technologies that hold real promise for the “green” movemen . Fuel cells are mechanical devices that use hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fuel such as methane to usually produce an electric current. Fuel cells are clean, quiet, and highly efficient sources of electricity. Scientists are doing extensive research now on how new, smaller fuel cells can be developed and their research is very promising. The fuel cell research that is being done today focuses on making the fuel cells smaller and more efficient. Early fuel cells were large and cumbersome, but recent research technology has made them smaller and easily adaptable for alternative fuel vehicles. In 2003, President Bush announced a program called the "Hydrogen Fuel Initiative" (HFI) during his State of the Union Address. This initiative, supported by legislation in the (EPACT 2005) and the "Energy Policy Act of 2005"as well as the"Advanced Energy Initiative of 2006," aims to develop hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies to make fuel-cell vehicles practical and cost-effective by 2020. The United States has dedicated more than one billion dollars to fuel cell research and development so far. Pollution reduction is one of the primary goals of using the fuel cell. By comparing a fuel-cell-powered car to a gasoline-engine-powered car and a battery-powered car, you can see how fuel cells greatly improve the efficiency of cars today. With the kind of extensive fuel cell research underway today, we are well on the way toward converting our gasoline powered engines (gas guzzlers, if you will) into clean burning vehicles that will run just like the traditional car. A polymer exchange membrane fuel cell has been developed through technologies that are endorsed by the Department of Energy. The DOE is focusing on the "PEMFC" as the most likely candidate for transportation applications. Most of the fuel cell technology being explored today is based on using hydrogen as the main fuel source. This is certainly the case with the PEMFC. It seems to be the most promising type of fuel cell that is currently being looked at for use in alternative fuel vehicles. There is also a direct methanol fuel cell that compares with the PEMFC as far as its operating temperature. However, these fuel cells aren’t as efficient and carry a higher risk of explosive danger. Another disadvantage to this fuel cell is that it requires a large amount of platinum to act as a catalyst. That alone makes it very expensive to run. One problem with fuel cells that technology has yet to solve is that they are expensive to make. Many of the components of a fuel cell are expensive thus making the whole fuel cell costly. In order to be competitively priced (compared to gasoline-powered vehicles), fuel cell systems must cost no more than $35 per kilowatt of electrical energy produced. Currently, the projected high-volume production price is $110 per kilowatt. Another problem with fuel cell technologies is that they have yet to be converted enough to allow them to operate in various weather conditions. The membranes must by hydrated in order to transfer hydrogen protons. Therefore, researchers must find a way to develop fuel cell systems that can continue to operate in sub-zero temperatures, low humidity environments, and high operating temperatures. Taking a fuel cell and putting it into an alternative fuel vehicle during a conversion is only the first step. You also need to make sure that the fuel cells are effectively able to process the hydrogen, propane, or ethanol that is being put into the car to power it. When you conduct extensive testing of your fuel cells, you can be sure that you have a “green” vehicle that won’t harm the environment while also giving you the power and performance that you desire. It’s important, therefore, to conduct full testing of fuel cells at various times to make sure that the fuel cells are operating at their full capacity so that the motor they are powering will run efficiently. In the same vein of emission testing, testing of fuel cells for vehicles can help make sure that the alternative fuel is powering your vehicle the way it was meant to be. Fuel cell testing stations can be found online or in your local car supply store. Many fuel cell testing stations come with computer readouts so that there’s no doubt that your fuel cells are operating at their full capacity. The advantage to these fuel cell testing stations is that you will be able to identify any deficiencies and then fix them before they become a problem. Fuel cell technologies are evolving and becoming more and more practical every day. The research is tireless and the development of new applications is exciting. But as with any new invention, extensive testing is necessary before we all just blindlly accept the supposition that whatever the manufacturers tell us is entirely truthful. |
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