Applications of Fuel Cells
As the understanding and technology for fuel cells grow, and the concern
over world petroleum reserves and the environmental impact of its combustion
increases, fuel cells could become the solution to provide clean energy
production throughout the world for future generations to come.
Since fuel cells can be stacked to increase energy output depending on the demand, they have a wide range of uses. Today, fuel cells have been incorporated into various applications ranging from laptop computers to space shuttles.
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A space shuttle launch (courtesy of NASA) and one of the three 12 kilowatt, 260 lb. fuel cells responsible for providing all of the shuttle's electrical demands (courtesy of UTC Fuel Cells).
There are three main catagories of applications where fuel
cells could play an important role in the future: transportation, residential,
and commercial.
Transportation
Cars and light trucks represent a huge potential market for fuel cells. If most of the world's cars and trucks converted to fuel cell power, our reliance on fossil fuels would be reduced. There would be environmental benefits since harmful atmospheric emissions could be decreased if hydrogen production was done in an environmentally friendly manner.
Companies in Germany and Japan are currently testing fully engineered vehicles. In most prototype automobiles, the cars are fueled by PEM type fuel cells. The main barrier to more mainstream fuel-cell powered cars are economic factors and the necessity of onboard hydrogen storage (see Hydrogen Storage Possibilities). The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) is working with American automobile makers like Ford and General Motors to produce an onboard reformer that can process organic fuels like gasoline and methanol to supply hydrogen from a more manageable liquid source.
Currently, the most developed forms of fuel cells are too heavy for automobiles.
They do have applications in heavier forms of mass transit, so city buses
may soon have the opportunity to run with clean, environmentally friendly
fuel cell power. Researchers are hopeful that when fuel cell technology
matures, cars powered by them will perform just as well as cars powered
by internal combustion engines.
The following pictures of a bus and car are examples of some of the transportation models.
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Residential and Personal Use
Personal or residentially used fuel cells will revolutionize independent
power generation. They can be used to run portable electronics such as
laptop computers, cell phones and CD players, completely replacing dry
cell batteries. In addition, they can provide a clean, quiet source of
primary, backup or off-grid power to urban, suburban or rural houses.
Fuel cells may have difficulty competing in the market for residential
generators because they are so much more expensive than a comperable gasoline
or diesel generator. However, for the forward-thinking and socially conscious
consumer, a fuel cell powered home will be an attractive option. The following
pictures are of a laptop and a cellular phone which demonstrate some of
the practical personal uses for the fuel cell. Note the methanol cartridges
that supply fuel for the cell phone.
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Industrial
Fuel cells will offer a cleaner, quieter alternative for companies looking
for a more reliable power source without the frequent power fluctuations
common to today’s power system. Not only will this reliable power
alleviate computer data losses and assembly line shut-downs by not fluctuating,
but will be a cost effective alternative by not only providing cheaper
power, but by also freeing up much needed office space occupied by the
previous power server. Fuel cells may also find more direct end-uses in
industry. Pictured below is a forklift, demonstrating the usefulness of
fuel cells in industrial applications.
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