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CHEMISTRY ISSUE INVESTIGATION DRAFT Is hydrogen fuel cell a viable alternative to petrol powered car?

Introduction Due to the scarcity of fuels, its price is continuously rising and growing concern for the global environment. More focus is being given to the hydrogen fuel cell as a replacement for burning fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are constantly flow into the cell, which is then produced electricity in order to power the car. Because hydrogen and oxygen gases are electrochemically converted into water, fuel cells have more benefits over petrol cars. Hydrogen fuel cell is very efficient, does not involve any moving parts and does not produce any polluting gases. Chemical Background of Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell

The fuel cell used to power a vehicle is known as Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell. It is also referred as Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell. In a PEM fuel cell, , two half-cell reactions take place simultaneously, an oxidation reaction (loss of electrons) at the anode and a reduction reaction (gain of electrons) at the cathode. These two reactions make up the total oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction of the fuel cell, the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen gases. As in the electrolysers, the anode and cathode are separated by an electrolyte, which allows ions to be transferred from one side to the other. The electrolyte in a PEM fuel cell is a solid acid supported within the membrane. The solid acid electrolyte is saturated with water so that the transport of ions can proceed. Anode reaction: Cathode reaction: Overall reaction: H2 2H+ + 2eO2 + 2e- + 2H+ H2O (l) H2 + O2 H2O (l)

At the anode, the hydrogen molecules first come into contact with a platinum catalyst on the electrode surface. The hydrogen molecules break apart, forming a bond with the surface of platinum. As the hydrogen molecule is now broken the oxidation reaction can proceed. Each hydrogen atom releases its electron, which travels around the external circuit to the cathode (it is this flow of electrons that is referred to as electrical current). The remaining hydrogen proton bonds with a water molecule on the membrane surface, forming a hydronium ion (H3O+). The hydronium ion travels through the membrane material to the cathode, leaving the platinum catalyst site free for the next hydrogen molecule. At the cathode, oxygen molecules come into contact with a platinum catalyst on the electrode surface. The oxygen molecules break apart forming a weak bonding at the surface of platinum, enabling the reduction reaction to proceed. Each oxygen atom then leaves the platinum catalyst site, combining with two electrons (which have travelled through the external circuit) and two protons (which have travelled through the membrane) to form one molecule of water. The redox reaction has now been completed. The platinum catalyst on the cathode electrode is again free for the next oxygen molecule to arrive. However the source of hydrogen doesnt come from the air. Hydrogen gas is produced from a process known as Natural Gas Reforming. Natural gas contains methane (CH4) that can be used to produce hydrogen with thermal processes, such as steam-methane reformation and partial oxidation.

Steam-Methane Reforming Most hydrogen produced today is made from steam-methane reforming, a process which high-temperature steam (700C1,000C) is used to produce hydrogen from a methane source, such as natural gas. In steam-methane reforming, methane reacts with steam under 325 bar pressure (1 bar = 14.5 psi) in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a relatively small amount of carbon dioxide. Steam reforming is an endothermic reaction whereby heat must be supplied to the process for the reaction to proceed. Chemical equation: Partial Oxidation In partial oxidation, the methane and other hydrocarbons in natural gas react with a limited amount of oxygen (typically from air) that is not enough to completely oxidize the hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. With small amount of oxygen available, the reaction products contain mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide (and nitrogen, if the reaction is carried out with air rather than pure oxygen), and a relatively small amount of carbon dioxide and other compounds. Subsequently, in a water-gas shift reaction, the carbon monoxide reacts with water to form carbon dioxide and more hydrogen. Chemical equation:
CH4 + O2 CO + 2H2 + heat

CH4 + H2O (+heat) CO + 3H2

Points of View Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel cell Hydrogen fuel cell is very efficient compared to petrol car. They convert hydrogen and oxygen directly into electricity and water, with no combustion within the process; petrol car undergoes combustion process where heat is loss along the process, thus reduces its efficiency. Hydrogen fuel cell does not produce any polluting gases. A fuel cell does not undergo combustion process. Therefore it produces no emission of sulphur dioxide which can lead to acid rain and no emission of nitrogen oxides which produce smog or dust particulates. In a petrol car, it involves combustion process where harmful waste products are produced which causes global warming, formation of acid rain and greenhouse effect. Hydrogen fuel cell does not contain any moving parts. With no moving parts in the fuel cell, it does not require any maintenance. As a result, electrical power produced is relatively silently.

The engine in a petrol car contains moving parts such as pistons and fans. Therefore, maintenance is required in order to prevent the car from breakdown.

Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hydrogen fuel cell is costly. Due to the presence of pure hydrogen and oxygen which is first produced, followed by storing as a carrier and the existence of precious metal (Platinum) as a catalyst, It raises the cost up to $300,000 per car which is 5x the price of a petrol car. Hydrogen gas is very explosive. When hydrogen gas which is previously mixed with oxygen is exposed to the air, it will create an explosion that may cause fatality. Safety measures must be taken in order to insulate the fuel. There are limited fuelling stations of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen is not easily available at fuelling stations and the availability of hydrogen for easy fuelling requires large infrastructure.

Alternative Point Of View Hydrogen can be obtained using steam reforming. However, this production method has produces carbon dioxide as a by-product which contributes to negative environmental impact Therefore, it defeat the purpose of using hydrogen fuel cell.

1 Car with internal combustion engine 2 Fuel cell car with hydrogen produced from coal generation 3 Fuel cell car with gasoline reformer 4 Fuel cell car with methanol reformer 5 Fuel cell car using hydrogen from natural gas (distributed from urban retail outlets) 6 Fuel cell car using hydrogen from natural gas (made at large refineries)

Figure 2. Graph comparing carbon dioxide emissions of cars, using different types of fuel sources.

Conclusion
Hydrogen fuel cells are an attractive alternative to oil dependency. Fuel cells give off no pollution, and in fact produce pure water as a by-product. In order to cope with the depletion of non- renewable sources, hydrogen fuel cell should be encouraged to sustain the environment.

References Bellis, 2000, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventions/a/Fuel_Cells_2.htm

Brown, Bursten, Lemay, Murphy & Woodward, 2012, Chemistry The Central Science, Twelfth Edition, ed. Adam Jaworski, Pearson Prentice Hall, United States of America, pp. 856-857.

Cook, 2001, An Introduction To Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology, no.6, pp.26, accessed 14 July 2013 http://fuelcellstore.com/products/heliocentris/intro.pdf

Dana1981, Teej, Stins, Jenifer, Neytie, 2008, Hydrogen Cars http://www.greenoptions.com/a/hydrogen-cars

Davies, 2013, A Hydrogen-Powered Car Could Someday Be Sitting In Your Driveway http://www.businessinsider.com/pro-con-future-of-hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric-vehicles-fcev-2013-4

Fuel cell hydrogen energy association, 2009, Hydrogen Production From Coal http://www.fchea.org/core/import/PDFs/factsheets/Hydrogen%20Production%20From%20Coal_NE W.pdf

James Madison University, 2003, Alternative Fuel Data Center http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen_basics.html

Nice, Strickland, 2007, How Fuel Cells Work http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell4.htm

Santany, 2007, How Does a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Work http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568949_hydrogen-fuel-cell-work.html

West, 2005, Is Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future? http://environment.about.com/od/fossilfuels/a/fcv.htm

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