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THE Fuel Cell Thread (merged)

Discussions of conventional and alternative energy production technologies.

Re: Fuel cell vehicles

Unread postby Aedo » Tue 18 Jul 2006, 04:05:09

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('methofuel', 'T')hanks guys. This platinum catalyst in the PEM fuel cells could well be the main hurdle, but I vaguely remember someone mentioned about nano-catalyst. Have they tried nano-catalyst?

What about other fuel cells that dont need platinum catalyst?


Unfortunatele fuel cells DO need platinum or other platinum group metals.

Massive development of this approach would produce peak platinum within decade or two.
Until new catalysts are developed (or amount of platinum used can be dropped by 2 orders of magnitude) fuel cell car is commercial no go area.


Not all fuel cells require Platinum - solid oxide fuel cells use nickel for example. The drawback is that SOFCs operate at high temperatures (anywhere from 500°-1000°C) and as such are unsuitable for automotive applications. BTW I realise the context of this discussion is automotive but there is the general, although false, belief that all fuel cells rely on platinum.
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Re: Fuel cell vehicles

Unread postby methofuel » Tue 18 Jul 2006, 08:57:46

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aedo', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('EnergyUnlimited', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('methofuel', 'T')hanks guys. This platinum catalyst in the PEM fuel cells could well be the main hurdle, but I vaguely remember someone mentioned about nano-catalyst. Have they tried nano-catalyst?

What about other fuel cells that dont need platinum catalyst?


Unfortunatele fuel cells DO need platinum or other platinum group metals.

Massive development of this approach would produce peak platinum within decade or two.
Until new catalysts are developed (or amount of platinum used can be dropped by 2 orders of magnitude) fuel cell car is commercial no go area.


Not all fuel cells require Platinum - solid oxide fuel cells use nickel for example. The drawback is that SOFCs operate at high temperatures (anywhere from 500°-1000°C) and as such are unsuitable for automotive applications. BTW I realise the context of this discussion is automotive but there is the general, although false, belief that all fuel cells rely on platinum.


The Advanced Nanotechnology Limited website introduces Ceria as an alternative catalyst, saying "Ceria is ideal for applications such as Environmental/auto catalysts, MCP slurries, Fuel Cells and Transparent abrasion/UV resistant coatings. Particle sizes available: 5-10 nm, 20 nm, 50 nm"
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Re: Fuel cell vehicles

Unread postby Aedo » Wed 19 Jul 2006, 06:34:04

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('methofuel', 'T')he Advanced Nanotechnology Limited website introduces Ceria as an alternative catalyst, saying "Ceria is ideal for applications such as Environmental/auto catalysts, MCP slurries, Fuel Cells and Transparent abrasion/UV resistant coatings. Particle sizes available: 5-10 nm, 20 nm, 50 nm"


Ceria is not used as a catalyst for fuel cells - it is used as the electrolyte in some solid oxide fuel cells.

It is can be used as an auto-catalyst in some applications.
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Big tests for fuel cells coming in 2007

Unread postby J-Rod » Thu 20 Jul 2006, 21:53:06

Some interesting data on fuel cell testing in the near future, as well as expected outputs of said technology.

Of course, this part kinda stuck out for me:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')art of the problem, Lim said, is that such things take time. "When you talk to a scientist, he thinks it's done when the prototype is done. But that's a long way from getting it to people like you and me," he said.


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Nissan aims to launch fuel-cell vehicle in early 2010s

Unread postby billybell88 » Mon 11 Dec 2006, 07:53:50

Nissan aims to launch fuel-cell vehicle in early 2010s

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/n ... 8C6ADBE%7D
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Home fuel cell

Unread postby tmazanec1 » Sun 29 Apr 2007, 13:40:47

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Re: Home fuel cell

Unread postby Windmills » Sun 29 Apr 2007, 13:54:23

Hm. So they're using some source of energy to make electricity to make hydrogen and then use the hydrogen to make electricity for use in the house? I must be mistaken, or that makes no sense financially or energetically and is just a government subsidized program trying to create a market where there is none.
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Re: Home fuel cell

Unread postby Sheb » Sun 29 Apr 2007, 16:27:38

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Windmills', 'H')m. So they're using some source of energy to make electricity to make hydrogen and then use the hydrogen to make electricity for use in the house? I must be mistaken, or that makes no sense financially or energetically and is just a government subsidized program trying to create a market where there is none.


It *does* seem a bit strange, Windmills. As you said, converting back and forth would be expensive *and* . The only thing I can think of is that perhaps hydrogen is generated in a non-electrolytically manner, and thus acts as an energy medium. One such method is the production of hydrogen by the reaction of sodium-hydroxide (NaOH) with aluminum in a bath of water. This was used to produce the large volumes needed for the zeppelins. NaOH, otherwise known as Caustic Soda, is made by adding lime (calcium carbonate) to Sodium Carbonate (Natron). This whole production could be done through a thermobaric (heat+pressure) process. That said, maybe what they are doing is:

Maybe it's: Heat-->Hydrates-->H2-->electricity.

H2 would travel by pipeline better than the others. And Caustic Soda is not something for your average Joe Homeowner to mess with. Just a guess.

But you're right, CxHy-->Electricity-->H2-->Electricity would be downright silly.
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Re: Home fuel cell

Unread postby kuidaskassikaeb » Mon 30 Apr 2007, 09:32:21

I think, looking at the temperatures used, that they may be making a solid oxide fuel cell. Those don't need hydrogen and could run on any flamable gas. They exist now, but need some work on the electrodes to make them feasible as generators. However, they will not work on water.
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Re: Home fuel cell

Unread postby Aedo » Tue 08 May 2007, 02:29:09

Looks like some journalist has gotten the wrong end of the stick - what a surprise!

Reading between the lines it is likely to be a micro-CHP system based on a PEM fuel cell system with a natural gas reformer (these have been tested in Japan). Essentially the reformer operates at 750 - 800 degrees and splits hydrogen out of the natural gas and generates the heat - then the hydrogen produced is used in the PEM fuel cell to produce the electricity.

It will never run on water of course but will utilise water within the heating circuit - I suspect that there was some translation error with this causing the incorrect report.

As for the 90% savings - bit optimistic, but the possibilty exists for significant savings over their current grid system which would reduce the load on the grid.
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Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby Graeme » Fri 31 Aug 2007, 23:16:21

Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'N')on-hydrogen fuel cell makers -- who manufacture fuel cells powered by natural gas or other clean-burning fuels like ethanol -- have in recent years attracted investment even as industry pioneers who build fuel cells that use hydrogen have gone out of favor.

Over the next three years, he believes the share of hydrogen fuel cell makers will shrink to 30 percent of total global sales while the non-hydrogen will chalk up 70 percent, up from the present 50-50 split between the two sectors.

In dollar terms, $1 billion in fuel cells, hydrogen and non-hydrogen, were sold worldwide in the past 10 years. Global annual sales stand at $250 million now, noted Simon, but added they can mushroom into a $10 billion-a-year industry if the non-hydrogen segment really takes off.

"The non-hydrogen fuel cells can deliver all the benefit associated with fuel cells, high efficiency, low to zero emissions and durability without the flaw of having to find hydrogen," Simon told Reuters.


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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby joewp » Sat 01 Sep 2007, 01:17:55

Just the next scam to separate the marks from their money. :x
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby Twilight » Sat 01 Sep 2007, 01:49:21

Destined for niche applications only.

Unnecessary now, unobtainable later.
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby hydroguy » Tue 11 Sep 2007, 22:32:59

Bring on the development and let the market determine what is viable or not. Creating jobs in green energy is a step in the right direction even if there happen to be a few missteps along the way.
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby AirlinePilot » Tue 11 Sep 2007, 22:44:54

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hydroguy', 'B')ring on the development and let the market determine what is viable or not. Creating jobs in green energy is a step in the right direction even if there happen to be a few missteps along the way.


Hahaha! Missteps? Now thats funny.
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby NEOPO » Tue 11 Sep 2007, 23:18:16

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hydroguy', 'B')ring on the development and let the market determine what is viable or not. Creating jobs in green energy is a step in the right direction even if there happen to be a few missteps along the way.


Hahaha! Missteps? Now thats funny.

Why not try to add something of value to a thread rather then blather on like an idiot?
Why does everything have to be a conspiracy to some people?
Why am I still here? :lol:
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby AirlinePilot » Wed 12 Sep 2007, 01:50:06

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NEOPO', 'W')hy not try to add something of value to a thread rather then blather on like an idiot?
Why does everything have to be a conspiracy to some people?
Why am I still here? :lol:


Why do you bother coming into every thread I'm in and engaging in some sort of verbal dhiarrea? I think everyone gets it, you hate my guts.

Now move along, your wasting your time.

My reply here was to show the hilarity of the post in light of what a lot of us think is going down fairly soon. It was my opinion and I'm going to continue to express it whether you post here or not.
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby NEOPO » Wed 12 Sep 2007, 01:52:45

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AirlinePilot', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NEOPO', 'W')hy not try to add something of value to a thread rather then blather on like an idiot?
Why does everything have to be a conspiracy to some people?
Why am I still here? :lol:


Why do you bother coming into every thread I'm in and engaging in some sort of verbal dhiarrea? I think everyone gets it, you hate my guts.

Now move along, your wasting your time.

My reply here was to show the hilarity of the post in light of what a lot of us think is going down fairly soon. It was my opinion and I'm going to continue to express it whether you post here or not.

What is going down soon man? Shit I didnt know something was coming down... Is this another one of your wacky conspiracy theories?
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Re: Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel cells

Unread postby Twilight » Wed 12 Sep 2007, 03:35:30

If that avatar isn't harrassment, I don't know what is. That's some creepy-ass stalker stuff right there. Chalk another one up for psychosis.
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