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HYDROGEN STORAGE AND FUEL CELLS water is added to the container to reduce the
temperature. That would deter the reaction between
ABSTRACT oxygen and nitrogen.
Most of us are aware of the fact that the unique
Compared to a petrol tank containing the fuel, a
element of hydrogen has several similarities with
hydrogen gas cylinder in compressed form would
both halogens and alkali metals. The popularity of
weigh much higher. To cool down the hydrogen gas
hydrogen fuel is increasing day by day due to the
into a liquid state, the temperature has to be brought
reason that a large amount of heat is produced by
down to 20 K. Due to these constraints, it is quite
this fuel on combustion.
difficult to use this fuel efficiently. Hence, experts
Hydrogen Fuel Cell might be an astonishing fact for around the world are conducting research to find
most of us to know that this fuel could release more ways on how to use this fuel in a simple way in the
energy in comparison to diesel or petrol. This future.
means Hydrogen Fuel Cell has an efficiency three
times more in comparison to petrol. Also, lesser
pollutants are produced by the burning of this fuel
than compared to the use of petrol.

Hydrogen is the main fuel, but fuel cells do require

oxygen. One of the main appeals of fuel cells is that
they generate electricity with very little pollution –
much of the hydrogen and oxygen used to generate
electricity ultimately combine to form an innocuous
by-product, namely water. Each fuel cell also has an
electrolyte that carries electrically charged particles
from one electrode to the other, and a catalyst that
accelerates electrode reactions.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell – Explanation

CONTENT
Hydrogen and fuel cells (FCs) are usually
considered inseparable because, among FCs,
What is Hydrogen Fuel Cell? hydrogen-fueled FCs have the best performance and
Hydrogen Fuel Cells shows how these fuel cells the lowest environmental impact. Hydrogen (like
work, how they came to be, and how they are electricity) is not a primary source of energy, but
coming into wider use. rather a carrier of energy. There are no natural, pure
The fuel contains nitrogen oxides as pollutants since hydrogen reservoirs. Water can be electrolyzed in
hydrogen uses nitrogen as the impurity (here we are the reverse of the fuel cell reaction to produce
talking about the molecule of hydrogen and not the hydrogen. In order to force electrolysis to take
atom). The pollution can be brought down if a little place, considerable amounts of electricity are
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needed, much of which is currently generated by the Since pure hydrogen is not naturally available in
burning of fossil fuels. large quantities on earth, it demands primary energy
to obtain on an industrial level. Some frequent
However, not all hydrogen fuel cells are intended methods of production are steam methane reforming
for vehicles. Stationary fuel cells for the generation and electrolysis.
of electricity have been under development for
decades. Some applications of fuel cells to Production through Steam-methane reforming –
residential or commercial buildings could involve

the generation of electricity from fuel inputs such as
natural gas or hydrogen and the use of waste heat
from that process to heat the building.  Extraction of hydrogen from methane
 Liberating carbon dioxide and carbon
Hydrogen atoms enter a fuel cell at an anode where monoxide into the atmosphere
 These gases help in the greenhouse effect
they are stripped of their electrons by a chemical and contribute to the change of climate.
reaction. Hydrogen atoms are now “ionized” and
Production through electrolysis –
have a positive electrical charge. Negatively
charged electrons provide the current to work
through wires. If alternating current (AC) is
 Separation of oxygen and hydrogen atoms
required, the DC output of the fuel cell must be
 This process can use solar, hydro, biomass,
routed through a conversion device called an wind, geothermal, fossil fuels, and
inverter. nuclear energy
 It is a cost-effective method.
The source of hydrogen is commonly referred to as
the fuel, and that gives its name to the fuel cell, Hydrogen Economy
although no combustion is involved. Then,
hydrogen oxidation takes place in a very effective 1. The term “hydrogen
economy” or “economy of
way, electrochemically. Hydrogen atoms react with hydrogen” refers to the vision of using
oxygen atoms to form water during oxidation; hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source.
electrons are released in the process and flow as an For example, replacing natural gas as a
heating fuel or gasoline as a transport fuel.
electric current through an external circuit.
2. The main benefit of this scheme is that the
energy transmission is done in the form of
A fuel cell is an electrochemical system combining hydrogen instead of electric power.
hydrogen and oxygen to generate energy, with the 3. Presently, this fuel is used by mixing with
by-products of water and heat. A single fuel cell, in CNG gas to improve its efficiency. It is
expected to be used on a wider scale in the
its simplest form, consists of two electrodes-an coming years. This fuel is also used in
anode and a cathode-with an electrolyte in between. hydrogen fuel cells to create electricity.
Hydrogen interacts with a catalyst at the anode,
producing a positively charged ion and an electron Uses of Hydrogen Fuel
that is charged negatively.
Hydrogen fuel can provide power for cars,
aeroplanes, boats, and stationary or portable fuel
Production of Hydrogen Fuel
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cell applications, which can power an electric such as hydrogen is available and ready
allows traditional gas and coal power
motor. It is very difficult to store hydrogen in either stations to be decommissioned.
a cryogenic tank or a high-pressure tank which is
the main problem of using hydrogen fuel cells in Having a system which also serves the
hydrogen transport sector brings further
cars.
benefits. Encouraging hydrogen transport is
advantageous in promoting cleaner transport
Thus we discussed hydrogen fuel and its importance technologies, further reducing emissions in
and uses for the common man. Let us hope that this accordance with policies. This also provides
fuel would soon be used in our households in an cleaner air, and therefore enhances air
quality in cities as pollution levels will
economical manner over the coming years. decrease (petrol cars are replaced by
hydrogen cars).
Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel
Combining these two applications, power
and transport, is unique as it serves two
On burning hydrogen, it emits only water
sectors with one infrastructure system. This
vapour,
dramatically reduces the initial investment
 When hydrogen is burned it does not required and makes the business more
produce carbon dioxide. financially feasible.
 Hydrogen deletes little tailpipe pollution and
is considered less of a pollutant.
 It has the ability to run a fuel-cell engine References
when compared to an internal combustion https://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/
engine. Web_sites/16-17/Hydrogen/conclusion.html
CONCLUSION
Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising [1] D. A. King and O. R. Inderwildi, "Future of
alternative to current automobile fuels. They Mobility Roadmap: Ways to Reduce emissions
essentially combine the energy density and While Keeping Mobile," Smith School of Enterprise
the convenience of liquid fuels with the and the Environment, Oxford University, 2010.
clean and efficient operation of electric
vehicles. Although certain aspects of the [2] R. B. Gupta, Hydrogen Fuel: Production,
technology such as efficient on-board Transport and Storage (CRC Press, 2008).
storage still require some improvement,
there are no reasons why hydrogen couldn’t [3] A. V. da Rosa, Fundamentals of Renewable
become an equally convenient and attractive Energy Processes, (Academic Press, 2005).
transportation fuel as diesel or gasoline are
today. Individually, each application (power
and transport) has it's own advantages.
Using hydrogen storage to balance the grid
discourages fossil fuel energy generation
and encourages renewable generation. This
has many benefits, such as lower emissions
and cleaner air. These help to strive towards
meeting relevant targets, for example the
Paris agreement and Scotland's 2032 targets
to be 100% renewable. The presence of
hydrogen energy storage allows renewable
energy to be harvested at busy generation
times, and to be used at low points of
generation. Knowing that a reliable storage