Optimization of hydrogen fuel cell economy for next generation power supply

Abstract

We are all very concerned about the diminishing sources of conventional energy sources. The rate at which fossil fuels are consumed exceeds the rate at which they are produced naturally. The result will be a global fuel shortage, which will cause numerous issues in various industries. The second factor is the pollution that these sources add to our environment, which gets worse as more of them are used, which lowers the standard of living on this planet. There is ongoing research into alternative fuel sources to address the global energy crisis and supply us with clean energy.Like electricity, hydrogen is an energy carrier capable of carrying enormous amounts of energy, potential replacement for fossil fuels in the transportation sector is hydrogen, which is favorable from an environmental standpoint. Using hydrogen in conjunction with fuel cells will be especially beneficial. In low-temperature operation, fuel cells operate more efficiently than typical battery/internal combustion engine combos and don't emit nitrogen oxides. Currently Steam-Methane Reforming [SMR] is the widely used hydrogen production technology. Which yields Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide as the by-products along with hydrogen. Even with Carbon Capture and Storage [CCS] such methods of hydrogen production cause the Greenhouse gas emissions, simultaneously increasing the cost of production.Many challenging scientific and technological issues will need to be solved in order to make a move into a hydrogen economy from the existing fossil fuel, including hydrogen storage and production, which will take decades to complete. As a result, hydrogen is still the fuel of the future rather than the present. Hydrogen is not a substitute for fuel; rather, it is a form of energy that must be converted into hydrogen starting with chemicals rich in hydrogen.