FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

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FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
An Alternative Form of Electrical Power
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HOW DO FUEL CELLS WORK?
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
Fuel Cells Generate Electricity By Freeing
Electrons From H2 Gas
An Alternative Form of Electrical Power
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HOW DO FUEL CELLS WORK?
Fuel Cells Generate Electricity By Freeing
Electrons From H2 Gas
Because the Proton Exchange Membrane does not
carry electron current, the Freed Electrons are
Forced to Follow an External Path through a
Wire (Thus Generating Electrical Power)
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HOW DO FUEL CELLS WORK?
Because the Proton Exchange Membrane does not
carry electron current, the Freed Electrons are
Forced to Follow an External Path through a
Wire (Thus Generating Electrical Power)
While the H ions (protons) are free to travel
across the membrane via Ion Exchange Reactions!
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HOW DO FUEL CELLS WORK?
At the Opposite Electrode, H ions, O2(gas)
and Electrons combine to form H2O byproducts ---
Making this Technology ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!!!
While the H ions (protons) are free to travel
across the membrane via Ion Exchange Reactions!
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WHERE MAY FUEL CELLS BE USED???
HOW DO FUEL CELLS WORK?
Fuel Cell Technologies
At the Opposite Electrode, H ions, O2(gas)
and Electrons combine to form H2O byproducts ---
Making this Technology ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY!!!
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WHERE MAY FUEL CELLS BE USED???
Power Supply to Homes And Families
To Power Electricity Grids In Our Communities
Portable Electronics
Fuel Cell Technologies
Automotive Applications
EVERYWHERE!!!
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Researchers are Asking the Question---
How do we provide H2 to the Fuel Cell???
H2 Fuel???
?

• Beginning with the most Important Factors to
  Consider
• Safety
• Cost
• Supply Rate

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And Considering Automotive Perspectives in the
Hydrogen Fuel Economy

• Compact and lightweight
• A 480-km (300-mi) driving rang requires 5-10 kg
  of usable hydrogen
• Reduce air pollution
• Cost effective!!!!!!!

GM Has Invested Into Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.
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Researcher are Asking the Question---
How do we provide H2 to the Fuel Cell???

• We examine our technological options (for
  Automotive Applications)
• 5 Stainless Steel Tanks to Carry Gaseous
  Hydrogen
• On-Board Production of Hydrogen from
  Hydrocarbons (C-C-C)x-
• Release of Hydrogen Gas from Metal Hydrides

• Beginning with the Most Important Factors to
  Consider
• Safety
• Cost
• Supply Rate

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Researcher are Asking the Question---
How do we provide H2 to the Fuel Cell???

• Beginning with the Most Important Factors to
  Consider
• Safety
• Cost
• Supply Rate

• We examine our technological options (for
  Automotive Applications)
• 5 Stainless Steel Tanks to Carry Gaseous
  Hydrogen
• On-Board Production of Hydrogen from
  Hydrocarbons (C-C-C)x-
• Release of Hydrogen Gas from Metal Hydrides

• The Dobbins Group has limited their studies to
  Metal Hydride Approach
• We are looking into
• NaAlH4 with Ti Dopants Added
• LiBH4
• MgH2

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Researcher are Asking the Question---
How do we provide H2 to the Fuel Cell???

• We examine our technological options (for
  Automotive Applications)
• 5 Stainless Steel Tanks to Carry Gaseous
  Hydrogen
• On-Board Production of Hydrogen from
  Hydrocarbons (C-C-C)x-
• Release of Hydrogen Gas from Metal Hydrides

• The Dobbins Group has limited their studies to
  Metal Hydride Approach
• We are looking into
• NaAlH4 with Ti Dopants Added
• LiBH4
• MgH2

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Technological Advances

• Hydrogen can be stored in its pure form or
  cryogenic liquid in tanks or in the solid state
  compound.
• Finding effective hydrogen storage materials is
  one of the most difficult challenges
• Material characterization through the use of
  x-rays may help

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Hydrogen Storage Materials ---Complex Metal
Hydride --- NaAlH4

• Technical Questions surrounding the use of this
  material???
• What are the kinetics of hydrogen uptake and
  release?
• What are the cost benefits of hydrogen fuel vs.
  oil?
• Where are the Dopant (Ti) atoms within the
  structure? (Answer Using Our X-ray Approaches,
  we will try to pinpoint the location of Ti in
  NaAlH4.)

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Hydrogen vs. Oil

• We consume 6 million barrels of oil every single
  day!

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X-ray Approaches
Using 2 types of X-rays
Stationary Anode X-ray Generator
Synchrotron X-ray Generator
Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National
Laboratory
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Impact on 9-12 grade science education---- how
will you begin to construct a learning module
around this work so that 9-12 graders can become
interested/involved in synchrotron x-ray work
(this is specific to your science education
interests and I am also interested in developing
this sort of information).  
User Facilities(Whats needed to discuss with
K-12ers the need for user facilities?) Statistics
about Mathematics and Science in K-12 Education.
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