Hydrogen fuel engine technology is not new to the world; it has actually been used in major projects by the major automotive manufacturers in the United States of America. General Motors being in the lead for manufacturing hydrogen powered vehicles is followed by BMW. They use the basic principles used to make standard vehicles. Many people often want to know how hydrogen fuel engines work. Especially with the gas prices always increasing and the World Recession, hydrogen can be highly appreciated as an alternative fuel source.
Hydrogen fuel engine/motor
Hydrogen fuel engines are different from the regular engines in the way they work. Cars using hydrogen fueled engines usually need electricity to power the car. The hydrogen fueled engine is different from the normal internal combustion engine in that hydrogen produces electricity which is used to run a motor or engine. A hydrogen motor can be said to be a two motor engine.
The first cell is responsible for producing electricity from hydrogen while the other uses the electricity produced to move the vehicle. The electric engine is easy to understand how it works and in fact has been used for a long time. The fuel cell technology is what many people find complicated.
Hydrogen fuel cell
A hydrogen fuel cell is the main source of energy in a hydrogen fuel engine and works like a battery. There is a membrane situated in the middle of the cathode and anode. Hydrogen breaks down when it hits this membrane through a chemical reaction that makes negatively charged electrons and positively charged hydrogen ions.
An electric current is formed when the positively charged hydrogen ions travel through the membrane while the electrons go around. This hydrogen ions usually combine with oxygen, which is naturally available, to form water. The water is expelled from the fuel cell along with heat which are the only by products of the process. This is why the hydrogen fuel engine is believed to be eco-friendly.
Powering the engine
To be able to produce enough electricity to fuel the engine of the car, many Hydrogen fuel cells are installed in stacks. This is because you may find that one hydrogen fuel cell produces like one volt of electricity and the reaction happens many times. You may perceive the hydrogen fuel cell as a battery except the fact that it is charged by hydrogen fuel.
The electricity produced from the hydrogen fuel cell is funneled to the engine and powers the vehicle. That is how a hydrogen fuel engine works to be able to provide power for a vehicle to move. The basic concept of the hydrogen fuel engine may be used to create innovative hydrogen fueled engines.
Advantages of hydrogen fuel
Hydrogen fueled engines are highly recommended alternatives for the gas fueled engines due to their ability to conserve the environment. Hydrogen is being advocated to being the alternative of fuel source because it also avoids the overdependence on fossil fuels. It is believed to be the best fuel because it produces water as a byproduct compared to the harmful carbon dioxide emitted by gasoline and diesel.
This Hydrogen engine having a capacity it can works on heavy loads for eg; Train , cranes etc.
I have intreast in hydrogen energy.