Fuel cells sectoral changes

As mentioned earlier, separation of C02 at concentrated sources is easier than from the environment, and carbon capture at upstream decarbonizes many subsequent economic sectors. However, it does require significant changes in the existing infrastructure of power and chemical plants. Furthermore, approximately half of all emissions arise from small, distributed sources. Many of these emitters are vehicles for which onboard capture is not practical. Thus, unless all the existing automobiles are replaced by either hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars or electric cars, the capture of C02 from the air provides another alternative for small mobile emitters. 

Assuming constant definition of industrial sectors and no changes in net foreign trade, there is a substantial structural effect of mobile fuel cells on industrial branches (see Fig. 13.13). 

The demands on the mechanical engineering sector will increase slightly. However, there will be changes within this industrial sector. The simpler transmission of the fuel-cell propulsion... 

So the greatest challenges are in the mobile sector, but the pressure to act is much greater here as well, owing to oil scarcity, pollutants from vehicles, noise nuisance, etc. Compared with stationary applications, the alternative technologies in the mobile sector are also much poorer. This is why fuel-cell vehicles remain a possibility, despite the enormous sectoral changes that accompany this alternative. The question is when will they achieve market penetration One of the main obstacles that will have to be overcome is the attendant position of both the automobile industry and the infrastructure industry concerning the investment. Which one is prepared to... 

The overarching drivers for the development of hydrogen technologies are climate change and reductions in oil consumption with additional benefits in emissions reductions. The use of hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles can reduce oil use and carbon plus other emissions in the transportation sector, while hydrogen can enable clean, reliable energy for stationary and portable power applications. 

As mentioned earlier, CB is prone to oxidation, the so-called carbon corrosion, which results in the loss of surface area, changes in the pore structure and finally also leads to sintering of the supported nanoparticles and eventually their loss from the support surface. This affects both the kinetics of the reaction and the electrode s mass transport behavior resulting in a significant loss of performance with operation time. Consequently, carbon support durability is considered to be a major barrier for the successful commercialization of fuel cell technology in the automotive sector. So much so, during the last decade, more than 60 publications dealt with carbon corrosion mechanisms in fuel cell apphcation [82]. 

The present infrastructure fuel for heavy vehicles is high sulfur diesel (now -500 ppm sulfur by weight) but this may change to a nearly sulfur-free diesel as proposed by the EPA. Beginning June 1, 2006, refiners must produce a diesel containing a maximum of 15 ppm sulfur (3). The fuel for this sector could also be a gasoline if such a fuel cell system could compete. 

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