The Hindu Business Line : Fuel in the cell

The `fuel cell' is likely to reach a breakthrough in less than ten years and emerge as the major energy source, not only in automobiles but in many areas of daily life.

In the past 20 years, research work has been vigorously pursued in several advanced countries to develop an engine that can produce energy and, at the same time, satisfy the primary requirements such as environmental friendliness, independence from fossil fuels and ease of mass production to make the product competitive with other types of power-producing equipment.

The automobile industry, in particular, has been carrying on rather alone, until recently, in spearheading a dedicated quest in this direction. This effort has resulted in the production of electrical cars and models with hybrid engines, though only with limited commercial success. The most promising find, however, is the `fuel cell', which, according to major research groups in the US, is likely to reach a breakthrough in less than ten years and emerge as the major energy source, not only in automobiles but in many areas of daily life. The present status of high cost of production and operation with fuel cells has to change and, hence, projects on hand are aimed at slicing down the price to a tenth of the prototype version.

What is a fuel cell?

Like any electrical battery, the fuel cell is of modular construction with sandwiched layers of electrodes and electrolyte. The more common types of electrolyte membranes are of solid oxide but a selection of alkali, phosphoric acid, or molten carbonate may also find use in different builds. An electrochemical process sets in when an interaction occurs in the close package, thereby generating electricity. The by-products of the reaction — water and carbon-dioxide — are suitably cleared. An anode and a cathode in the module together with an external circuit form the complete system for the electrical flow. It is claimed that the efficiency in power conversion in the case of a fuel cell is as high as 60 per cent, whereas it is a mere 20 per cent in an internal combustion engine. Clean power, noiseless functioning, absence of moving parts and earth friendliness elevate the fuel cell to a higher level of acceptance than other conventional energy-producing devices.

Applications

Beginning with the adoption in spacecraft and soon seized for pilot schemes in cars and trucks, the new energy system is also under extensive testing in areas such as submarines, electronics, laptop computers, water treatment plants and portable power units.

Cars: Ford Motor Company, which turned 100 years on June 16, is poised to enter its second century in the field with big plans for hi-tech innovations in models, yet to come. By 2050, as officials of the automobile giant expect, nearly half of Ford versions will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Many more leading auto manufacturers are also working to introduce the fuel cell concept as the alternative prime mover.

Electronics: Small-size solid-state fuel cells with output as low as 3 KW will have ready application in portable electronics. Among the most versatile gadgets that can easily take to this revolutionary device are cell phones, laptops, tape recorders and video cameras.

Offices, hospitals and homes: Multiple sets built to provide outputs in higher ranges for meeting the heavy demands in offices, hospitals and entire residential blocks are mainly assemblies of fuel cell clusters.

These can be tailor-made to cater to specific requirements or arranged for tandem operation with standard units as manufactured. Hospitals, especially, will be greatly benefited when the fuel cell power package arrives, as it assures dependable, noiseless operation.

A melting pot

While it is certain that the reign of the gasoline engine will not be allowed too much extension, it is still difficult to establish what kind of fuel cell would ultimately replace it. Hydrocarbons found in natural abundance — for example, natural gas and methane — would be the obvious choice for the fuel cell electrolyte.

As oxygen is freely obtained from the atmosphere and hydrogen from chosen fuels to sustain the process, the application of fuel cells in the auto industry and for generation of power in public utility companies may become a reality sooner than we may anticipate. As a consequence, we can soon look forward to radical changes in everyday life .

(The author is an Oregon-based freelance writer.)

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