Fuel Cells for the Home - Is it Feasible

Fuel cells have the potential for revolutionizing the way we get energy. They have already been used in industrial plants and automobile manufacturers have started to produce cars that run o hydrogen. Fuel cells for the home are also being developed.

Fuel cells work by using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The only by product of this process is water, so they are very good for the environment. Fuel cells are also very efficient their conversion rates are between 40% and 50% compared to 15% to 20% for internal combustion engines. They also produce electricity without generating a lot of heat.

The main technical difficulty in holding back widespread use of fuel cells is the necessity to supply them with hydrogen. This is a volatile substance and can be explosive if not handled properly. And, it takes quit some energy to produce the hydrogen, usually energy in the form fossil fuels.

Until hydrogen can be delivered safely to households, fuel cells for the home have to produce their own hydrogen with the use of a reformer. These devices can extract hydrogen from other materials such as methanol, natural gas, or propane. This adds to the cost of the fuel cell, but still makes it more efficient than a gasoline powered generator.

One of the problems of reformers is that they produce carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The total amount, however, is about 20% less than that produced by thermoelectric power plants.

Japan has been very active in developing and promoting fuel cells for home use. As part of an experiment program they have installed small fuel cell systems in households throughout the country. These systems are placed at the front of houses and cost about $5000.

Fuel cells can be used to produce electricity for household appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and lights and can also supply hot water for household use. The result is less dependency on fossil fuels and cheaper electricity costs for the home owners.

Besides Fuel Cells we invite you to explore the possibility to generate both heat and electricity from just one system. The stirling engine. The Stirling engine is a story in itself, if you interested please check out our sections about this fascinating machine. Just one hint, the Sterling Engine is capable of transforming heat info mechanical movement. If you add the warmth of the sun and the "heat waste" of your central heating system to your train of thought you well underway for a fascinating afternoon of daydreaming and planning.

 

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