The respective advantages of hydrogen fuel engines for automobiles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles

Hydrogen engines and hydrogen fuel cells are two different technologies that use hydrogen as an energy source, and each has some advantages and disadvantages. Here are their main advantages:

Hydrogen engines

1 High energy density: Hydrogen has a high energy density, allowing hydrogen fuel engines to provide high power and long cruising range, comparable to traditional fuel engines.

2 Fast refueling: Hydrogen refueling is faster than battery recharging and can usually be completed in just a few minutes, meaning hydrogen-fueled vehicles have similar convenience to traditional vehicles when it comes to refueling.

3 Zero emissions: The only emission from a hydrogen fuel engine is water vapor, which produces no tailpipe emissions, helping to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydrogen fuel cell

1 Efficient energy conversion: Hydrogen fuel cells have higher energy conversion efficiency. Compared with internal combustion engines, they can convert hydrogen into electricity more efficiently, thus reducing energy waste.

2 Quiet operation: Compared to internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are generally quieter because they do not have an explosive combustion process, only an electrochemical reaction.

3 Long range: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles typically have longer ranges because their battery systems can store more energy.

4 Zero emissions: Like hydrogen fuel engines, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles only emit water vapor, helping to reduce environmental pollution.

It is important to note that both technologies have some challenges and limitations, such as issues with hydrogen production and storage, and a lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Therefore, the choice of technology depends on a variety of factors, including available infrastructure, cost, energy sources and application requirements. In the future, as technology develops and infrastructure improves, hydrogen fuel vehicles may play a more important role in the automobile market.

Do fuel cell energy storage batteries still require lithium?

Fuel cells and lithium batteries are two different types of battery technologies, each with their own advantages in different application scenarios and needs. Choosing which battery technology to use depends on the specific use and performance needs.

Advantages of fuel cells

1 Long range: Fuel cells typically have long range, making them suitable for applications that require long-duration operation, such as electric buses and long-haul trucks.

2 Fast refueling: Hydrogen recharges faster than electricity charging, which is an important advantage for applications that require fast refueling, such as taxis and commercial vehicles.

3 Zero emissions: Fuel cell vehicles only emit water vapor and produce no tailpipe emissions, helping to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Advantages of lithium batteries

1 High energy density: Lithium batteries generally have higher energy density, making them suitable for applications that require high energy density such as light vehicles, e-bikes and mobile devices.

2 Flexibility: Lithium batteries can be easily adapted to applications of all shapes and sizes, making them widely used in small electronic devices and electric vehicles.

3 Mature infrastructure: Charging infrastructure is relatively mature and widely distributed, making it easier for lithium battery technology to gain support in different regions and uses.

All things considered, if long range and quick refueling are required, as well as zero emissions, fuel cells may be a better choice. However, if the application requires high energy density, smaller scale, or an existing charging infrastructure, lithium batteries may be more suitable. Additionally, some applications may use a hybrid system of both to take advantage of their respective strengths. In the future, as technology continues to evolve, these advantages and disadvantages may change, depending on new innovations and market demands.

What is the basic structure of a fuel cell?

A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy. Its basic composition includes the following main components:

Anode (hydrogen electrode): The anode is a pole of the fuel cell and usually consists of a catalyst layer, a hydrogen diffusion layer and a hydrogen supply layer. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode, and an oxidation reaction occurs under the action of a catalyst, splitting the hydrogen molecules into hydrogen ions and electrons.

Cathode (oxygen electrode): The cathode is the other pole of the fuel cell and usually consists of a catalyst layer and an oxygen supply layer. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode from the outside and combines with hydrogen ions and electrons under the action of a catalyst to produce water vapor (H 2 O).

Electrolyte Membrane: The electrolyte membrane is the separating layer between the anode and cathode and is usually made of a polymer material. This membrane allows protons (hydrogen ions) to pass through, but blocks the flow of electrons, so that the electrons must pass through an external circuit to connect the anode and cathode.

Catalyst: Both the anode and cathode contain catalyst layers, usually using noble metals (such as platinum) as catalysts to accelerate the reaction rate of hydrogen and oxygen and promote proton transport.

Current Collector: Both the anode and the cathode have current collectors that collect electrons generated from the catalytic reaction and direct them to the external circuit to achieve the flow of current.

Cooling system: Since the fuel cell generates heat when working, a cooling system is needed to control the temperature and prevent overheating.

Hydrogen supply system: For applications such as fuel cell vehicles, a hydrogen supply system is required to deliver hydrogen to the anode.

Air supply system: Fuel cells usually require oxygen from the outside, so they are equipped with an air supply system to deliver oxygen to the cathode.

These components work together to allow a redox reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell to produce electricity while producing water vapor as the only emission. This process of converting chemical energy into electrical energy makes fuel cells a clean, efficient energy conversion technology suitable for a variety of applications, including cars, power stations and portable power supplies.

Do fuel cells store energy themselves?

Fuel cells do not store energy themselves, they are devices that convert chemical energy (stored in hydrogen and oxygen) directly into electrical energy, rather than storing electrical energy like batteries. Fuel cells work by producing electrical energy in a redox reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

The task of storing energy is usually performed by other parts outside the fuel cell system. These parts include:

Hydrogen Storage: In fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel, the hydrogen is typically stored in gaseous or liquid form in specialized hydrogen storage tanks. These tanks are devices used to store hydrogen supplies.

Oxygen supply: Oxygen is typically obtained from the outside atmosphere rather than being stored and supplied to the fuel cell.

Fuel supply system: In addition to hydrogen, some types of fuel cells require a supply of other fuels, such as methanol or natural gas.

Power management system: Fuel cell systems usually include a power management part to control and adjust the distribution and output of power to meet demand.

While fuel cells themselves don't store energy, unlike batteries, they have advantages, such as long operation times and quick refueling. Batteries store energy and then release it, while fuel cells can continuously produce electricity when fed a constant supply of hydrogen along with a fuel supply. This makes fuel cells advantageous in applications that require long-duration operation, such as electric buses and long-distance trucks.