Table of Contents
When hydrogen fuel is burnt with oxygen, it produces no emissions. The popularity of hydrogen fuel is growing as a result of the huge quantity of heat produced by this fuel during burning. Hydrogen Fuel Cells may be a startling reality for most of us to learn that this fuel may produce more energy than diesel or gasoline. This indicates that a hydrogen fuel cell is roughly three times more efficient than a gasoline engine. Furthermore, as compared to the usage of gasoline, this fuel produces fewer pollutants.
Although hydrogen is the primary fuel, fuel cells also require oxygen. One of the great advantages of fuel cells is that they produce very little pollution — much of the hydrogen and oxygen needed to produce power eventually mix to form a harmless byproduct, mainly water. Each fuel cell also contains an electrolyte, which transports electrically charged particles from one electrode to the other, as well as a catalyst, which speeds up electrode reactions.
Fuel Cell powered by hydrogen
Hydrogen Fuel Cells explains how these fuel cells function, how they were created, and how they are becoming more widely used.
Because hydrogen employs nitrogen as an impurity, the fuel contains nitrogen oxides as contaminants (here we are talking about the molecule of hydrogen and not the atom). Pollution can be reduced by adding a little water to the container to lower the temperature. The chemistry between oxygen and nitrogen would be stymied as a result.
A compressed hydrogen gas cylinder would be significantly heavier than a petrol tank carrying the fuel. The temperature must be reduced down to 20 K in order to cool the hydrogen gas into a liquid condition. It is difficult to use this fuel efficiently due to these limits. As a result, scientists all around the world are doing research to identify easy ways to utilize this fuel in the future.
Hydrogen Fuel Applications
Hydrogen fuel may be used to power automobiles, aeroplanes, boats, fixed or portable fuel cell applications, and electric motors. The biggest issue with employing hydrogen fuel cells in automobiles is the difficulty of storing hydrogen in either a cryogenic tank or a high-pressure tank.
Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel
- When hydrogen is consumed, it releases just water vapor; when hydrogen is burned, it does not emit carbon dioxide.
- Hydrogen emits fewer tailpipe emissions and is regarded as a less harmful contaminant.
- When compared to an internal combustion engine, it can power a fuel-cell engine.
As a result, we talked about hydrogen fuel and its relevance and applications for the average person. Let us hope that in the next years, this fuel will be used in our homes in a cost-effective manner.
Also read: Extraction of Metals
FAQs
Q. What is the efficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell?
ANS: When fuelled by pure hydrogen, the fuel cell may achieve an efficiency of up to 80%. So we have an 80 percent efficiency in creating electricity and an 80 percent efficiency in converting it to mechanical power.
Q. How much electricity can a hydrogen fuel cell generate?
ANS: A single fuel cell produces about 1 volt or less of electricity, which is insufficient even for the most basic applications.
