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Showing posts with label fuel-cell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuel-cell. Show all posts

Sunday, 11 May 2008

Future: Alternate fuel

23:32 0

Future: Alternate fuel



BMW Hydrogen 7BMW Hydrogen 7


BMW has announced the start of production of the new BMW Hydrogen 7, the world’s first hydrogen-powered luxury saloon car. Destined to make its first public appearance on 28 November at the Los Angeles Motor Show, the Hydrogen 7 will be built in limited numbers and offered to selected users. The BMW Hydrogen 7 is based on the existing 7 Series and comes equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on liquid hydrogen or petrol. In hydrogen mode the car emits nothing more than water vapor. Powered by a 260hp 12-cylinder engine, the Hydrogen 7 accelerates from zero to 62mph in 9.5 seconds before going on to an electronically limited 143mph top speed.



With its unique dual power engine, the driver of a Hydrogen 7 can switch quickly and conveniently from hydrogen to conventional petrol power at the press of a steering wheel-mounted button. The dual power technology means the car has a cruising range in excess of 125 miles in the hydrogen mode with a further 300 miles under petrol power. To make this possible the BMW Hydrogen 7 comes with a conventional 74-litre petrol tank and an additional hydrogen fuel tank holding up to 8kgs of liquid hydrogen. Such flexibility means the driver of a BMW Hydrogen 7 is able to use the vehicle at all times, even when the nearest hydrogen filling station is out of range.


remain exactly the same regardless of which fuel is in current use. The driver can switch between the two without any effect on driving behavior or performance. The car always gives priority to the use of hydrogen but, should this run out; it automatically switches to petrol power.


For undiluted driver enjoyment, engine power and torque in the Hydrogen 7 Unlike many previous hydrogen concept cars showcased by rival manufacturers the BMW Hydrogen 7 heralds a milestone in the history of the car. It is a full production ready vehicle, which has met all the stringent processes and final sign-off criteria that every current BMW model undergoes. A total of 100 BMW Hydrogen 7s will be built in 2007. Details on pricing and the destinations of the 100 cars will be announced at a later date.


Why hydrogen?


The BMW Group has been committed to hydrogen technology as a means of reducing car emissions, in particular CO2 emissions, for over 20 years. When running in the hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor. And, unlike fossil fuels and traditional petrol, hydrogen is available in virtually infinite supply when renewable energies such as solar, wind and wave power are used to produce the liquid hydrogen. Stored in a hi-tech tank which keeps the fuel at a pressure of 3-5 bar and a consistent temperature of -250C, liquid hydrogen offers significant advantages in energy density compared to other possible alternative fuel sources to enhance the cruising range of the car.


BMW continues to develop ultra efficient, yet very dynamic petrol engines that significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Together with clean performance diesel cars and the technologically advanced hybrid systems currently under development, the BMW Group has a clear strategy for sustainable mobility with hydrogen as the ultimate goal.



Hydrogen Fuel Cell BicyclesHydrogen Fuel Cell Bicycles


Several companies in the past have showcased their plans to use hydrogen fuel cell technology to power a bicycle. Recently, Chinese company Pearl Hydrogen became the latest company to showcase the idea, at a recent technology convention in Shanghaimart. The 20″ wheel prototype weighs 32kg and is powered by a PEM fuel cell and brushless electric motor. The top speed is 25km/hour and the 600L twin cylinder fuel cells have a maximum range of 100km. Some trial orders have already been placed for 20,000 Yuan (about US$2,650). The company is optimistic that their hydrogen bike will be successful enough to begin mass producing bikes for the mainstream Chinese market, for a more affordable 4,000 Yuan (US$530). There are no current plans to ship the fuel cell bicycles overseas.


Do you think hydrogen is a viable fuel alternative?


Of course there are still technical challenges to overcome, like where people will refill the fuel cells. At present there is no hydrogen refueling infrastructure in China, so customers will have to purchase refills from local suppliers. However, there is talk of expanding the fuel network in China to accommodate future hydrogen powered cars. The electric bicycle industry still has a long way to go in terms of battery technology and efficiency, so there are likely to be many electrical and mechanical flaws to discover and overcome as they produce more bikes. Bicycles take a beating, so the systems will have to be rugged enough to endure the daily commute.



Portable fuel cell powered by water and aluminumPortable fuel cell powered by water and aluminum


Hitachi Maxell announced the development of a fuel cell battery that relies on water and aluminum to generate electricity.


Measuring 16 (H) x 10 (W) x 6 (D) cm (6 x 4 x 2.5 inches), the simple, low-cost device produces an average of 10 watts of power. The company claims to be working on developing it as a power source with up to 100 watts of power, and they hope to see the fuel cell use recycled aluminum scrap.


The device is described as a type of proton-exchange membrane fuel cell that generates power by combining hydrogen with oxygen in the air. Separate cartridges contain aluminum and water, and hydrogen is generated as water is gradually added to the aluminum. With 20 grams (0.7 ounce) of aluminum, a laptop can be powered for 4 to 5 hours.



Membrane Fuel Cells Membrane Fuel Cells


A fuel cell is an electrochemical device which converts hydrogen directly into electricity. This contrasts with a conventional electrical-generation method whereby a fuel—such as oil, gasoline, natural gas, or coal—is burned in air and generates heat. The heat is used to heat a fluid, (typically water/steam), which is then used to rotate a device, such as a generator. It is the generator which actually produces the electricity. Fuel cells do not require a mechanical step (i.e., a rotating generator), and thus is inherently a more efficient process—meaning less fuel is required to generate the same amount of power. Environmentally, and from a natural resource perspective, this is desirable. An easy way to envision this technology is to equate it to a battery. A fuel cell and a battery are both electrochemical devices except that in the battery, the fuel and the oxidant (oxygen) are contained in a package (e.g., a “D” battery). In a fuel cell, the fuel and oxygen are allowed to be “fed” to the cell, thereby making it a continuously fed battery.


In a fuel cell, molecular hydrogen is oxidized at the anode and converted to protons and electrons. The electrons are allowed to enter the “electrical” circuits of our homes, buildings, and the grid, thereby creating a source of electricity. The protons are allowed to pass through a separator; in many cases this may be a membrane, where it combines with oxygen from the air to form water. When the fuel cell is fed entirely by hydrogen, water and heat are the only by-products. The heat produced in the system may be used to heat your hot water, supplement building heat-systems, or can be used to “cool” a building via absorption cooling. Ultimately, this scenario is the cleanest and most environmentally benign prospect for a future renewable energy scheme. Currently, as we await the hydrogen infrastructure, H2 may be extracted from such fuels as natural gas (CH4), gasoline, and coal. In these cases, the extracted hydrogen is once again fed to the fuel cell but carbon dioxide is formed. This greenhouse gas will have to be sequestered eventually in order to maintain a stable ecosystem.



ToshibaToshiba, 

who wears the belt for world's smallest methanol fuel cell, has now developed two fuel-cell powered MP3 player prototypes. A flash-based player measuring 1.4 x 4.3 x 0.8-inches is said to run for 35 hours on a single 3.5ml charge of highly concentrated methanol while a hard drive based player swells to 2.6 x 4.9 x 1.1-inches and runs for about 60 hours on a single 10ml charge. Those dimensions are pretty sweet (the 60GB ipod is 2.4 x 4.1 x .75 inches by comparison) and will certainly get smaller once optimized for production.
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