How Do Hydrogen Fuel Cells Work

What is covered on this page and how does a hydrogen fuel cell work…

1. How do they produce electricity
2. PEM Fuel Cells
3. H2 gas history
4. Hydrogen Cars

Q. How do they produce electricity?

A. Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity through an electrochemical process.

Though there are various types of fuel cells available in the world today, most follow a somewhat straightforward design.

Typical fuel cells are made up of three segments: Anode, electrolyte, and cathode.

Two chemical reactions occur within a fuel cell, the results of which are based on the fuel that is used for the energy system. The electrolyte that is used in a fuel cell is highly dependent on the type of fuel cell it is. If hydrogen is used as a fuel, the anode acts as a catalyst that is capable of turning the fuel into electrons and ions.

Next, the cathode converts the ions into the fuel cell’s waste produce, which is typically water vapor, while also using the electrons to generate an electric current.

Here’s an the short version of how hydrogen is made:

For years, fuel cells have been used as industrial power systems. Since about 1980, hydrogen fuel cells have been growing in popularity in the auto industry. Most of the world’s major automakers are now planning to commercialize hydrogen-powered vehicles that are equipped with small, yet powerful fuel cells. Backed by the interest of the auto industry, fuel cells are also beginning to enter into other industries and finding more support as a residential energy system.

This short video about the Toyota Mirai explains how a fuel cell engine works…

What is PEM Fuel Cells and how do they work?

One of the more popular types of fuel cells are proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

 

These fuel cells make use of a proton-conducting polymer membrane that acts as an electrolyzer.

This membrane separates the anode and the cathode sides in the fuel cell system. Hydrogen is diffused on the anode side of the fuel cells, producing protons that travel through the membrane to the cathode. The electrons produced by the process are fed into an external circuit, thus creating an electrical charge.

This video explains how H2 or hydrogen gas works – From the pump and into a hydrogen fuel car.

PEM fuel cells are most commonly used by the auto industry when developing hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The fuel cell industry is poised for promising growth, largely due to the support that these energy systems are seeing in many industries. According to the Fuel Cell Today Industry Review 2012, 2011 was one of the most lucrative years the industry has seen, with global shipments growing by 39% over what they had been in 2010. The report suggests that this growth will continue well into the future, meaning that the fuel cell industry may be poised to play a major role in the global energy economy.

Fuel Cell History

Fuel cells are devices that are capable of converting chemical energy acquired through a certain type of fuel into usable electricity. The most common type of fuel used in this process is hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cells are not a new technology, as some would suggest.

The technology first appeared as a concept in 1838, developed by German scientist Christian Friedrich Schonbein. In 1839, the first fuel cell was publicly demonstration by Welsh scientist Sir William Robert Grove, who based his work on that of Schonbein’s.

Since fuel cells were first developed, they have come to take many forms. Some of these energy systems use methanol as a fuel source to generate electricity, while others use organic waste. The common thread linking all fuel cell systems together is their capability to produce large amounts of clean energy.

Despite their potential to produce large amounts of electricity, fuel cells have been shunned for decades due to technological shortfalls that made them vastly inefficient. Only over the past few years has fuel cell technology reached the point where the energy systems can be considered viable.

William Groves Fuel Cell Illustration from 1839

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars and the automotive market today

​Hydrogen Fuel Cars Market

The global auto industry has taken a strong interest in fuel cells. Most of the world’s leading automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, have already released these vehicles.

Hyundai was the the first to begin mass producing its fuel cell cars, which started to see mass commercialization at the end of 2014. Other automakers started releasing their fuel cell vehicles in 2015 through today.

Companies like Honda and Ford are opting to wait longer to release their fuel cell vehicles due to concerns regarding the capabilities of the hydrogen fuel infrastructure taking form in some countries.

Other Fuel Cell Images…