The Future of PowerThe Future of Power

Fuel CellsFuel Cells

What are Fuel Cells?What are Fuel Cells?

Electrochemical conversion device A fuel cell a battery that does not need recharging. Batteries produce electricity from electrochemical A fuel cell a battery that does not need recharging. Batteries produce electricity from electrochemical

reactions inside the battery. But batteries have a limiting amount of reactants. Once reactants run out-battery reactions inside the battery. But batteries have a limiting amount of reactants. Once reactants run out-battery dead.dead.

Batteries store energy. As long as hydrogen and oxygen is supplied, fuel cell can continually produce energy. Batteries store energy. As long as hydrogen and oxygen is supplied, fuel cell can continually produce energy.

Fuel cell diagramFuel cell diagram

Why Fuel cells?Why Fuel cells?

More Efficient More Efficient • Requires less maintenance, doesn’t overheat, no moving partsRequires less maintenance, doesn’t overheat, no moving parts

Emissions are less harmful Emissions are less harmful • Fuel cell electricity plants create 1 ounce of pollution vs. internal combustion Fuel cell electricity plants create 1 ounce of pollution vs. internal combustion

electricity plants create 25 pounds of pollutionelectricity plants create 25 pounds of pollution

• Near zero harmful gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Near zero harmful gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxides, etc.Oxides, etc.

Energy ratings are higher than fossil fuelsEnergy ratings are higher than fossil fuels Energy flow in automobiles are greater than combustion carsEnergy flow in automobiles are greater than combustion cars

• Can reach 0 mph to 60 mph in less than 4-6 secondsCan reach 0 mph to 60 mph in less than 4-6 seconds

Application of Fuel CellsApplication of Fuel Cells

StationaryStationary• Power PlantsPower Plants• Spacecrafts Spacecrafts • Military Military ApplicationsApplications

• BuildingsBuildings• Remote LocationsRemote Locations• Backup PowerBackup Power

VehicularVehicular• Electric/Hybrid CarsElectric/Hybrid Cars• Military VehiclesMilitary Vehicles• PlanesPlanes• Public Public Transportation Transportation

Hydrogen Power Step 1Hydrogen Power Step 1

Step 2Step 2

Step 3Step 3

Step 4Step 4

Hydrogen Power Part2Hydrogen Power Part2

ProsPros• The only emission is waterThe only emission is water• Hydrogen is easy to obtain from waterHydrogen is easy to obtain from water• Theoretical efficiency: 75% to 87%Theoretical efficiency: 75% to 87%• Trouble rarely occursTrouble rarely occurs

Accidental combustionAccidental combustion Leakage (Solid metal tanks)Leakage (Solid metal tanks)

ProsPros• The only emission is waterThe only emission is water• Hydrogen is easy to obtain from waterHydrogen is easy to obtain from water• Theoretical efficiency: 75% to 87%Theoretical efficiency: 75% to 87%• Trouble rarely occursTrouble rarely occurs

Accidental combustionAccidental combustion Leakage (Solid metal tanks)Leakage (Solid metal tanks)

Hydrogen Power Pt2Hydrogen Power Pt2

ConsCons• Realistic efficiency only reaches about 18% to 30%Realistic efficiency only reaches about 18% to 30%• Hydrogen from water isn’t enough and must be obtained Hydrogen from water isn’t enough and must be obtained

other ways which may result in increase of other harmful other ways which may result in increase of other harmful gasesgases

• Hydrogen in the gas form is tough because of the energy Hydrogen in the gas form is tough because of the energy density. In a liquid form, hydrogen operates more density. In a liquid form, hydrogen operates more effectively but storing it requires high pressure and low effectively but storing it requires high pressure and low temperatures thus making it more difficult.temperatures thus making it more difficult.

• Sometimes much more expensive than fuel cars due to the Sometimes much more expensive than fuel cars due to the complex machines that help store, moderate and move complex machines that help store, moderate and move hydrogen through the carhydrogen through the car

• Impurities tend to ruin the chemical catalyst rendering Impurities tend to ruin the chemical catalyst rendering lower efficiency and life expectancylower efficiency and life expectancy

ConsCons• Realistic efficiency only reaches about 18% to 30%Realistic efficiency only reaches about 18% to 30%• Hydrogen from water isn’t enough and must be obtained Hydrogen from water isn’t enough and must be obtained

other ways which may result in increase of other harmful other ways which may result in increase of other harmful gasesgases

• Hydrogen in the gas form is tough because of the energy Hydrogen in the gas form is tough because of the energy density. In a liquid form, hydrogen operates more density. In a liquid form, hydrogen operates more effectively but storing it requires high pressure and low effectively but storing it requires high pressure and low temperatures thus making it more difficult.temperatures thus making it more difficult.

• Sometimes much more expensive than fuel cars due to the Sometimes much more expensive than fuel cars due to the complex machines that help store, moderate and move complex machines that help store, moderate and move hydrogen through the carhydrogen through the car

• Impurities tend to ruin the chemical catalyst rendering Impurities tend to ruin the chemical catalyst rendering lower efficiency and life expectancylower efficiency and life expectancy

““Hydrogen On Demand” Hydrogen On Demand” StorageStorage

Millenium Cell is the leader in developing sodium borohydride-based Millenium Cell is the leader in developing sodium borohydride-based energy sources. Using a proprietary catalyst, “Hydrogen on Demand” energy sources. Using a proprietary catalyst, “Hydrogen on Demand” systems can support a range of applications from personal electronics to systems can support a range of applications from personal electronics to transportation.transportation.

Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a compound with very high hydrogen Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a compound with very high hydrogen content. When NaBH4 is in an aqueous solution and then passed over a content. When NaBH4 is in an aqueous solution and then passed over a catalyst, it produces a large amount of hydrogen, along with a benign can catalyst, it produces a large amount of hydrogen, along with a benign can be recycled back into sodium borohydride.be recycled back into sodium borohydride.

It is very costly however. Sodium borohydride, not currently a popular It is very costly however. Sodium borohydride, not currently a popular chemical reagent, is expensive to purchase, and it is unknown whether the chemical reagent, is expensive to purchase, and it is unknown whether the price would decrease enough to be cost efficient if used in fuel cell price would decrease enough to be cost efficient if used in fuel cell hydrogen storage.hydrogen storage.

Solar Fuel CellsSolar Fuel Cells

Directly converts sunlight into electrical powerDirectly converts sunlight into electrical power Solar radiation reaches the earth’s upper atmosphere at a rate Solar radiation reaches the earth’s upper atmosphere at a rate

of 1366 watts per square meterof 1366 watts per square meter As seen from above, the Sun is really powerfulAs seen from above, the Sun is really powerful The main reagent for producing electricity is silicon although The main reagent for producing electricity is silicon although

other semi conductors are being tested currentlyother semi conductors are being tested currently

Solar- Pros/ConsSolar- Pros/Cons ProsPros

• A field of panels can supply a townA field of panels can supply a town• Relatively cheap compared to other methodsRelatively cheap compared to other methods• Absolutely no emissions except when manufacturing the cellsAbsolutely no emissions except when manufacturing the cells• Energy ratio (energy used to energy produced) is about 5.6 timesEnergy ratio (energy used to energy produced) is about 5.6 times

ConsCons• Realistic efficiency reaches peak at 28%, normally around 16% to Realistic efficiency reaches peak at 28%, normally around 16% to

19%19%• Lots of variables affect the performance of the cells:Lots of variables affect the performance of the cells:

Heat Heat ShadowsShadows Photonic PowerPhotonic Power Crystal DefectsCrystal Defects

ComparisonComparison

Comparison pt2Comparison pt2

Future of fuel cellsFuture of fuel cells

Already being used in smaller devices (cell Already being used in smaller devices (cell phones, laptops, mp3 players)phones, laptops, mp3 players)

With close to zero emissions, definitely will be With close to zero emissions, definitely will be usedused

Currently too difficult to store and too Currently too difficult to store and too expensive to produceexpensive to produce

Development is going on to bring efficiency Development is going on to bring efficiency up to +90%up to +90%