Can Fuel Cells Contribute to Future
CAN FUEL CELLS CONTRIBUTE to FUTURE POWER CRISIS?
Yong Ting Hui
University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Engineering and Science
UTAR Complex Jalan Genting Kelang 53300 Setapak Kuala Lumpur. tinghui@1utar.my Abstract— Our current rate of non-renewable energy usage will lead to power crisis in the future. Power crisis is a state where the demand for power energy increases and the price of power energy rises. Therefore, civilization will be forced to research and develop alternative energy sources. At the beginning of the 21st century , fuel cells appear poised to meet the power needs of a variety of applications. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy to electricity and thermal energy. Fuel cells, being one of the energy sources, can it contribute to future power crisis? This paper will discuss whether fuel cells can contribute to future power crisis.
Keywords— Fuel cell, power crisis, energy sources, research, electricity.
Introduction
The world is addicted to petroleum. We are absorbing this fossil fuel and eating it up faster than ever. We use petroleum to fuel our large and small power generators and our automobiles consume petroleum as if it were water. To reduce this mass consumption, alternative energy are needed. Fuel cell, a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
Hydrogen is the most common fuel of fuel cells, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols are sometimes used. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run. Fuel cell can produce electricity as long as fuels are supplied. Fuel cells consist of an anode (negative side), a cathode (positive side) and an electrolyte that allow charges to move between the two sides of the fuel cell. Electrons are drawn from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, producing direct current
Yong Ting Hui
University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Engineering and Science
UTAR Complex Jalan Genting Kelang 53300 Setapak Kuala Lumpur. tinghui@1utar.my Abstract— Our current rate of non-renewable energy usage will lead to power crisis in the future. Power crisis is a state where the demand for power energy increases and the price of power energy rises. Therefore, civilization will be forced to research and develop alternative energy sources. At the beginning of the 21st century , fuel cells appear poised to meet the power needs of a variety of applications. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy to electricity and thermal energy. Fuel cells, being one of the energy sources, can it contribute to future power crisis? This paper will discuss whether fuel cells can contribute to future power crisis.
Keywords— Fuel cell, power crisis, energy sources, research, electricity.
Introduction
The world is addicted to petroleum. We are absorbing this fossil fuel and eating it up faster than ever. We use petroleum to fuel our large and small power generators and our automobiles consume petroleum as if it were water. To reduce this mass consumption, alternative energy are needed. Fuel cell, a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
Hydrogen is the most common fuel of fuel cells, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols are sometimes used. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run. Fuel cell can produce electricity as long as fuels are supplied. Fuel cells consist of an anode (negative side), a cathode (positive side) and an electrolyte that allow charges to move between the two sides of the fuel cell. Electrons are drawn from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, producing direct current
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