Fuel cell hydrogen cost

In the fuel cell hydrogen is used two to three times as efficiendy as in an internal combustion engine. Hence, when utilized in a fuel cell, hydrogen can cost two to three times that of more conventional fossil fuels and stiU be competitively priced, ie, as of this writing the market price for hydrogen when used in a fuel cell and produced by electrolysis is competitively priced with gasoline. 

A complete fuel cell system, even when operating on pure hydrogen, is quite complex because, like most engines, a fuel cell stack cannot produce power without functioning air, fuel, thermal, and electrical systems. Figure 3 illustrates the major elements of a complete system. It is important to understand that the sub-systems are not only critical from an operational standpoint, but also have a major effect on system economics since they account for the majority of the fuel cell system cost. 

Another important parameter that has to be taken into account when choosing the appropriate diffusion layer is the overall cost of the material. In the last few years, a number of cost analysis studies have been performed in order to determine fuel cell system costs now and in the future, depending on the power output, size of the system, and number of xmits. Carlson et al. [1] reported that in 2005 the manufacturing costs of diffusion layers (for both anode and cathode sides) corresponded to 5% of the total cost for an 80 kW direct hydrogen fuel cell stack (assuming 500,000 units) used in the automotive sector. The total value for the DLs was US 18.40 m-, which included two carbon cloths (E-TEK GDL LT 1200-W) with 27 wt% P ILE, an MPL with PTFE, and Cabot carbon black. Capital, manufacturing, tooling, and labor costs were included in the total. 

The reformer outputs of carbon monoxide and hydrogen are reacted with atmospheric oxygen in separate fuel cells to produce power. At the cost of power from the hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen may be removed for insertion into the fuel tanks of vehicle fuel cells. If the hydrogen removal is permanent the size of the hydrogen fuel cell can be reduced. The set up is then a hydrogen mine. 

Besides using fuel cell cars as mobile utilities, stationary fuel cells can be used to cogenerate electricity, heat, and hydrogen. In high-temperature fuel cells, hydrogen can be separated and processed at low cost. 

The factors influencing platinum loading were assessed to develop an estimate of future fuel cell stack cost for reformate and hydrogen systems. Projections of minimum platinum requirements were estimated based on an analysis that considered ... 

The need addressed by this project is for a sensor to detect the presence of CO in the H2 produced from hydrocarbon feedstocks in reformers and used to power PEM fuel cells. Low-cost sensors are not available for measuring CO at 1-100 ppm levels in a fuel cell environment. The primary goal of this project is to develop a low-cost microelectronic gas sensor for detecting CO (1-100 ppm) in the fuel stream. The sensors must operate in hydrogen (30-75%), with carbon dioxide (CO2) (15%), CO (0-... 

In a low-temperature fuel cell, hydrogen gas is oxidized into protons, electrons, and other by-products when other fuels are used at the anode. At the cathode of the fuel cell, the oxygen is reduced, leading to formation of water. Both the anodic and cathodic reactions require electrocatalysts to reduce the overpotentials and increase reaction rates. In the state-of-the-art low-temperature fuel cells, Pt-based materials are used as the electrocatalysts for both the reactions however, the high cost and limited resources of this precious metal are hindering the commercialization of fuel cells. Recent efforts have focused on the discovery of electrocatalysts with little or no Pt for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) [1-3]. 

Components that are critical for success include the hydrogen tank (pressure vessels) and the electric machines, which can be responsible for two-thirds of fuel cell drivetrain costs. Production and assembly processes can lead to learning effects and possible cost reductions. Fuel cell systems need to be optimized for their automotive application, for example, in terms of durability, packaging and start-up behavior. 

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