Now in Renewable Energy
Fuel Cells Hold Key to Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, using hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, are key to hydrogen-powered transportation. Hydrogen sources could be natural gas, biomass conversion, and electrolysis or artificial photosynthesis. But cost (over $1800 per kw) and water issues still need to be resolved. In cold climates, water accumulating inside the cell can freeze, blocking reactant gas flow. Researchers are using high-speed imaging and neutron radiography to study the issue.
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Knowledgebase
The use of vegetable oil as a fuel dates back to 1898, when the German inventor Rudolph Diesel developed a new type of internal combustion engine that used oil derived from peanuts. A hundred years later, vegetable oil is attracting a renewed interest, with the focus shifting from transportation to stationary power generation.
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Knowledgebase
Intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar, challenge utilities who must deliver constant power to customers. When these sources suddenly crash, flow batteries may pick up the slack until peaking plants ramp-up. The most popular flow battery is based on vanadium redox technology, which uses charged vanadium in dilute sulfuric acid to store energy until it is needed. Flow batteries offer long life, are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
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