Questions from concerned citizens about energy, hydrogen and fuel cells answered by Hydrogenambassadors.com Vol. 3: From anode and cathode humidification to better understanding of the FC electrochemistry Here you find answers to questions from concerned citizen about sustainability, hydrogen and fuel cells. You are most welcome to send in your own set of energy related questions. 9) What is the effect of anode and cathode humidification? This question goes into the "physics of the chemical process" inside the fuel cells, in this case PEM. As I understand it, you need a certain state of wetness and/or dryness at both, cathode and anode. These correct states are hard to reach and even harder to manage. There is also very little literature about that. When searching at Google (good, that we have them) for: >>>effect of anode and cathode humidification at pem fuel cell<<< you come to a number of results, for example this one: http://www.fbe.gazi.edu.tr/dergi/tr/dergi/tam/23%281%29/10.pdf Anyway, this is "only" basic research, but it shows, how far off commercialization and how far off of mass production we in fact are. Market penetration with hundreds of thousands of units produced in a day, or even better: in an hour is far off reality. In fact, the effect of anode and cathode humidification is not commercially valuable managed; it is all more or less "trial and error". I remember once visiting the NIST, United States Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Advanced Technology Program, Gaithersburg, MD, USA on December 10, 2004. Here I saw some research on Neutron Imaging for Fuel Cell Water Management: http://www.hydrogenambassadors.com/meet-aae/h2ps2004/nist.php They had, at least at that time, at NIST the best "picture of reality" inside a fuel cell system. All others were only "pocking with a stick in the fog...". 10) Is the PEMFC the promising technology for automotive electro-mobility? This question is to be answered with a clear: Yes, at this time and with the knowledge of today. It might be, and that is in fact my big hope, some other technology in the pipeline, which we even do not know about. This new technology, which is not known (or better: not public known) may beat all other technologies, which we think of today. The limitation is "only" in the imagination of the people involved with it. That is an advantage, but also a disadvantage. I personally think, the real progress in hydrogen production (this is the most decisive question) and fuel cell applications will come from other corners, from small but powerful new companies, lead by powerful people, who will find their way for the benefit of mankind. The good thing is: Those people are there, I even know some of them!!!! My hope lies on them. And by reading these words, you are, in fact, one of them...Here you can read my prescription of one idea first released in 2003:
Four steps to a new reliable, cleaner and decentralized Energy Supply
based on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: http://www.hydrogenambassadors.com/background/four-steps-revolution-in-the-garage.php
11) Do you know any FC modeling packages? Again, when you search with Google (it`s them again...) for: >>>Fuel cell modeling packages<<< you come to this scientific results: http://www.scitopics.com/Fuel_Cell_Modelling.html with some hints for further readings. All these publications are not really new, but that does not matter. I also know companies, who are offering software for FC modeling package, like: Fluent, which is now part of ANSYS: http://www.fluent.com/about/ But there are also a number of other companies like Aspen Systems: http://www.aspsys.com/content/reference_center/hpcapplications/computational_fluid_dynamics_cfd 12) Do you have a recommendation book for better understanding of the FC electrochemistry design and optimization? Here I could recommend: New Horizons in Electrochemical Science and Technology, a report of the Committee on Electrochemical Aspects of Energy Conservation and Production, National Materials Advisory Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council, ISBN: 978-0309037358, available at Amazon and your local bookstore Although it is from 1986, the facts are still valid:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=986
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