by Fuel Cell Mike on August 16, 2009
Turning water into hydrogen and oxygen is a common process in plants and bacterias and now scientists at Penn State Researches have also found a way to do the same.
According to the scientists, they have achieved a way to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water and the hydrogen separated will be reusable to meet energy purposes via means of fuel cells by using the hydrogen as a fuel.
A solar cell is among the plenty of fuel cell devices, which use solar energy as its fuel to produce electricity. If hydrogen can be separated from water than we can produce a totally new kind of fuel cell devices using hydrogen as its fuel cell and this hydrogen will be available in abundance because it has to be derived from water and water covers almost all of our planet, so if this fuel cell device is invented, there will be no hue and cry for the electricity and power cuts.
Scientists at Arizona State University have performed an experiment where they were able to mimic the process of separating hydrogen from water with the use of a combined dye and a lab developed catalyst system.
The researchers are conducting various experiments to increase the efficiency of the process, so as to produce more and more hydrogen from water. They are also experimenting on the type, properties of the dyes used as a catalyst to the process by adjusting its general geometry system.
by Fuel Cell Mike on August 13, 2009
to Fuel Cell Problems
Perhaps the greatest thing since the indelible French Fry, a researcher in France has found a way to increase the efficiency of methanol fuel cells to 75%. As the world becomes more dependent upon electronic devices and their short-lived lithium ion batteries, the potential for fuel cells in handheld devices like phones and mp3 players has opened many eyes.
While the milliwattts per square centimeter and microliters per minute of fuel mean nothing to the average consumer, the facts can be boiled down to a battery that is 16 times more energy effective than conventional batteries.
This new methanol fuel cell was created by injecting a microscopic, porous layer into the silicone based product, which increased energy flow and allowed for operation nearer to room temperature, a necessary step towards fuel cell powered devices.
When picturing fuel cells, many people envision large pumps, transferring changed partials to create power. These new methanol products eliminate these cumbersome pumps, allowing for smaller, more portable options.
Unfortunately, these new fuel cells cannot solve an issue that has plagued the everyday use of fuel cells. Currently, fuel cells need temperatures of around 100 Celsius (the boiling point of water) to produce any power. While closer to this level, even methanol powered cells cannot fully accomplish this goal.
Perhaps with methanol fuel cells and another innovation allowing for creation of energy at lower temperatures, we may see fuel cells, in our cell phones in a near future.
by Fuel Cell Mike on August 11, 2009
fuel cell devices will revolutionize how our portable electronic devices are powered. Fuel cell devices will provide more power to our portable electronic devices than the alkaline, nickel cadmium, and lithium ion batteries that currently power our portable electronic devices. Additionally, these fuel cell devices will have a longer life than the aforementioned batteries. For example, with a fuel cell device it will be possible to keep a laptop powered on a fuel cell for a month without having to plug it in whereas with a lithium ion battery, you would be lucky to get two hours of power for your laptop.
Fuel cell devices work by converting chemical energy from chemical reactions between oxygen and a fuel into electrical energy. Although these chemical reactions must occur for the fuel cell device to provide electricity, these fuel cell devices can be the size of conventional batteries and can essentially function as batteries. However, unlike disposable and rechargeable batteries, fuel cell devices do not need to be replaced or recharged as long as the chemical fuel and oxidizer are available.
The development of fuel cell devices will be accelerated due to the development of materials that mimic the properties of spider silk. These materials, called polymeric nanocomposites, were developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This material can stretch and is highly resistant to tearing. As such, this material can be used in fuel cell devices to act as a membrane between the chemical fuel of the fuel cell device and the oxidizer.
Fuel cell devices will revolutionize how our portable electronic devices are powered and will, eventually, replace both disposable and rechargeable batteries with a more environmentally friendly solution.
by Fuel Cell Mike on August 7, 2009
When fuel cell devices were first introduced, I thought that, they are only for cars. Now a days micro and mini fuel cells are being developed and available in the market. So, why not fuel cell powered devices like mobile phones, PDA’s, ipods, play stations? Portable fuel cell devices are available in the market; used for quick recharge on the go. All fuel cell devices come equipped with an electrical cords. One end goes into the pack and the other detachable end goes into the device itself. The detachable end is interchangeable with the nature of device in use. Now, people are talking about universal chargers; so, universal fuel cells chargeable ends will arrive soon. The time taken for charging is similar to any wall mount charger. All you have to do is ’squeeze’ to charge your contraption. This action mixes the volatile liquids along with the oxygen present in the atmosphere thereby triggering electrical energy. With the advent of e-scooters which are now charged using home electrical wall sockets; soon, they will be charged by fuel cells. Government agencies are promoting bio-diesel, with ethanol and diesel mix. Brazil was the pioneer in this direction. The contents inside the fuel cells differ from one company to another. Methanol fuel cells is one among them.
by Fuel Cell Mike on August 4, 2009
You might be speculative what the advantages of methanol fuel cells are. Well, wait no further, in this article we’ll consider the pros and cons of fuel cells affiliated our distinctive gas powered locomotives, and why you must look at utilizing fuel cells to add on the power of your automobile. Study on to ascertain what the advantages of methanol fuel cells are!
Opposed to a few myths drifting out on the cyberspace, methanol fuel cells aren’t grievous to utilize or control. A lot of the disconfirming response towards utilizing methanol cells as a reservoir of power for automobiles adds up from the Hindenburg zeppelin accident of 1937, which was well advertized and commemorated extensively.
Rest ensured we have come a long way since 1937 in the utilization of methanol power. The advantages of fuel cells as power reservoir are several, and none of the events that hassled the Hindenburg accident are acquaint in today’s methanol fuel cells (your automobile Is not a sausage after all, is it?). Fuel cells are comfortable to keep up. You just have to make certain that your quart-sized source has the suitable quantity of fluent every now and then and you are correct!
Well, I hope in this article I resolved a few of the doubts you had on what are the advantages of methanol fuel cells. Now that you’ve nothing to concern about, bring out there and acquire your methanol powered automobiles breaking away
by Fuel Cell Mike on August 1, 2009
Research has exposed a preferably involvement twist of consequences into the Global Warming Sage. And evidently ramifications have developed along with the temperatures. You ascertain fuel cells render a lot of heat energy during the transition operation; nearly double that of daily reciprocator engines.
Figuring out the Nation’s troubles with respect to contamination is a judicious thing to do, yet if we just barter one trouble for some other we have basically cleared nothing. Are we certain we like to increment urban heat energy with billions of fuel cell automobiles gamboling? Hydrogen is also hard to depot and chilling of compacted hydrogen takes energy also.
Hydrogen collection with electric current engineering’s isn’t genuinely gratuitous, as it prices income to accumulate and filter out. If the hydrogen sits in your fuel storage tank for 3 days it may escape as a great deal as fifty percent and then you’d bear lower fuel as the hydrogen entirely escaped from oozing out of your fuel storage tank.
Storage of hydrogen won’t be so comfortable either because it should be maintained very cold. These are barely a few of the effects that search scientists are running through right now and will finally get it all worked out, but believe it a lengthier term destination for about 10-20 years or so. Now there have been crucial new improvements and fabrics such as Carbon Nano-Tubes might be the solution to preclude escaping.
by Fuel Cell Mike on July 29, 2009
Methanol Fuel Cells
Are you fed up costly gas for your automobile? Or maybe concerned about the surroundings? For ages, scientists have been acting on an energy alternate that accommodates hopes to alter the manner we live by altering the reservoir of fuel for a few of our most primary energy-using engines. This fresh engineering in progress is known as a fuel cell. A fuel cell provisions a DC (direct electric current) potential that may be expended to power motors, igniters, or any count of electric gadgets.
The abstract name for a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy transition gimmick. A fuel cell changes the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the operation it develops electrical energy. Other electrochemical gimmicks that are in employment these days and for a lot of decades are the long-familiar battery. The differentiating deviation between a bare battery and a methanol fuel cell is that everything the chemicals are stacked away inside the battery. The battery successively changes those chemicals into electrical energy but in due time it “becomes lifeless” as the chemicals are consumed and occasionally you may either throw it aside or reload it.
But then with a fuel cell, chemicals continually feed into the cell so as long as there is a stream of chemicals into the cell; the electrical energy flows out of the fuel cell. Burning engines the gas engine burn fuels and batteries changed over chemical energy back into electric energy when demanded. Although, fuel cells must act both jobs a lot expeditiously.
by Fuel Cell Mike on July 26, 2009
Methanol Fuel Cells: Coming Soon to a Computer Near You?
In the spring of 2005, IBM excitedly announced that it was working on a collaborative project with well-known Sanyo to produce a device that would be capable of running on methanol fuel cells. The prototype IBM ThinkPad laptop computer was not only configured to run on methanol fuel cells but had the ability to contain an alternate source of power as well. At the time of the announcement, the alternate power source was a typical battery.
The prototype of the ThinkPad was able to run for up to eight hours with no additional need for alternate power sources, courtesy of methanol fuel cell power. The companies also announced that no major redesign or restructuring of the configuration of the current model of ThinkPad would be necessary.
Enthusiasm abounded as the potential for such fuel cell operated devices was contemplated. The vice president of IBM’s Personal Computing Division, Peter Hortensius, noted that alternative energy such as methanol fuel cells had interesting and exciting applications to business devices and equipment. He stated that he believed that such devices could increase the probability for increased efficiency in the workplace.
It was not announced when a methanol fuel cell powered ThinkPad would be released and made widely available to consumers.
by Fuel Cell Mike on July 23, 2009
Bacterial cells fueled with great power.
Cells are often multiply for the benefit of human beings who are made up of main cells. However, the range of intensified part of clear-cut than that of anything, which is well wrought and nerve wracking feature in all. Fuel cell powered devices are more than anything in the life wherein which they are more suitable in all features than that of anything. Fuel cell devices are more than anything where in which the powdered form would need to note with all features to cope up with all issues. Life is all about the problem when if issues are fine to cope up with all necessary issues which are fine with a lot of information to cope up with cells. Usually there are two process of cell multiplication in which the mitosis deal with the body cells and meiosis deals with reproductive cells and hence it would have been fine with all features to cope up with all features.
Bacterial cells are almost fine with some devices that are manufactures recently to identify the particular human identify in this idiotic world than to study a lot. Fuel cell powered devices are major fine with all features than that of anything to study the normal issues in a lab. Last but least the issues are fine with all major symptoms that are being fine with all causes.
by Fuel Cell Mike on July 20, 2009
Fuel Cell Devices are Improving
The recent improvement of fuel cell devices have allowed for scientists to actually be able to witness the mechanisms that water go through in fuel cells. Scientists can expect visuals and results of up to ten times better than previous fuel cell devices would have allowed. Being able to witness the impressive mechanisms of water in fuel cells is key to future technology.
Fuel cells are a great source of power for automobile’s and plenty of other technological gadgets that make life just a little bit easier. Not to mention that fuel cell energy is also great for the environment. Fuel cell devices are effective, reliable and offer energy to both commercial and industrial companies.
There are plenty of type of fuel cells that range from methanol fuel cells to phosphoric fuel cells. The actual efficiency of a fuel cell depends on the amount of power that is drawn from it. Besides automobiles other fuel cell powered devices include power plants, hybrid vehicles, notebook computers and smart phones.
Fuel cell devices are becoming more and more common and can be found in major news outlets throughout the U.S. Some of the recent activities include the U.S. Legislation restoring hydrogen research funds, a bill being passed to boosts vehicle research funding and even going international as Vietnam starts to use methanol fuel cells.