UW Faces of Current Events : The future of fuel

Hydrogen fuel cells may be the solution to pollution that our gas-guzzling nation desperately needs, and a group of mechanical engineering students has spent the quarter researching this potential alternative energy source.

As part of the project, students design and construct a small fuel cell for use in a car. They experiment with different materials and shapes to find out what works best while keeping costs at a reasonable level, and then manufacture the fuel cells as well as test them.

"Specifically we are designing lightweight plates which distribute hydrogen and oxygen throughout the fuel cell stack," said senior Sam Gooch. "Our goal is to create plates that are highly electrically conductive, lightweight and able to withstand the highly acidic and corrosive environment within the fuel cell."

The project has two components: researching ways to improve manufacturing and molding techniques as a way to reduce production costs and introducing steel wool to the plates, which may be more conductive than the current use of epoxy. Epoxy is used to increase the strength of the plates but reduces their conductivity. The research is still inconclusive on whether or not the steel wool improves the fuel cells.

In order to increase production efficiency, the group is trying to create a base mold for the graphite mixture that would result in a new plate being formed after an hour of being pressed by 10,000 pounds of force. This would be faster and cheaper than the current method involving lathes and drills.

Fuel cells are primarily composed of graphite [HTML_REMOVED] which improves electrical conductivity [HTML_REMOVED] and produce electricity from hydrogen. Unlike carbon-based fuels (such as gasoline or kerosene) that release carbon dioxide, the fuel cells only emit water.

"[Fuel cells] are powered by hydrogen, which is mainly obtained from water," said Juan Pinzon, a fifth-year senior. "Thus, if the hydrogen is produced using renewable means such as solar or wind power, this could be a completely sustainable and renewable source of energy."

All three students became involved in the project through prior interest in the field. Pinzon was inspired to take a course fall quarter with Joyce Cooper, a professor in the mechanical engineering department who is one of the professors leading the research.

Although the technology is not yet advanced enough to do so, there are ongoing projects to develop the ability to separate the hydrogen from oxygen in water by using wind or solar energy.

Gooch pointed out that automobiles account for more than a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. If hydrogen fuel cells became widely used in cars, it would decrease the harmful release of those gases.

"Our research could potentially send the demand for hydrogen through the roof," he said. "This could cause oil companies to redirect their research and development budgets towards creating an economically feasible way to generate hydrogen without the use of expensive fossil fuels such as natural gas."

On the other hand, there are still many details that need to be worked out, such as finding a way for fuel cells to be able to financially compete with other energy sources.

"People have been expecting hydrogen fuel cells to help reduce our oil consumption, but there are still many issues that need to be worked out before their use can become widespread," senior Michael Kristian said. "These problems are complex and will require many laboratories working together if they are to be solved in time to provide useful solutions."

Although the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would not be reduced by hydrogen fuel cells, they would keep new pollutants from entering the atmosphere.

"Since hydrogen is not a hydrocarbon like gasoline, it doesn't emit carbon dioxide when it is reacted with oxygen," Gooch explained.

Pinzon suggested that current debates and legislation in Europe about reducing transportation-based carbon emissions by 2020 could be solved by fuel cells.

These students have been working on this research opportunity as part of the senior capstone project, which students can sign up to work on for one or two quarters. Some students may decide to continue studying fuel cells as well.

"I plan on researching energy systems and pollution control during grad school so I thought it would be good to get experience like this first," said Kristian, although this is his only quarter working on the project.

Pinzon, who will graduate at the end of the quarter, has applied to the UW for graduate school and hopes to continue to research fuel cells as he pursues his graduate and doctoral studies. Similarly, Gooch is considering staying with the project for his master's thesis and intends to continue to work on it next quarter.

There is still plenty of research to be conducted, but if all goes well, the oil-reliant world of today might become a cleaner Earth for tomorrow.

"If we can create a demand for hydrogen by making affordable cars that run on it, the supply will definitely follow," said Gooch.

Reach Abby Walker at features@thedaily.washington.edu.