Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen (PDF)

Fuel cell technology is the most exciting and legitimate
alternative source of power currently available to us as world
resources of non-renewable fuel continue to be depleted. No other
power generating technology holds the same benefits that fuel cells
offer, including high reliability and efficiency, negligible
environmental impact, and security of supply. Fuel cells run on
hydrogen - the simplest and most plentiful gas in the
universe - although they can also run on carbon monoxide, methane,
or even coal. Their applications are diverse, from powering
automobiles, buildings and portable electronics, to converting
methane gas from wastewater plants and landfills into electricity.

Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen is a controversial text
that challenges the accepted industry parameters for measuring fuel
cell performance and efficiency. Based on his inter-disciplinary
experience in the fields of power, nuclear power, and desalination,
the author contends that the development potential of the fuel cell
is related to the quantity fuel chemical exergy, which, like
electrical potential, is a quantitative measure of work done. The
fuel cell community currently characterises these devices in terms
of the enthalpy of combustion (calorific value) - however the
author argues a correct, qualitatively different and fourfold
larger characterisation is via the fuel chemical exergy, in units
of work, and not energy. He asserts that the distortion introduced
by this accepted perspective needs to be corrected before
relatively efficient fuel cells, integrated with comparatively low
performing gas turbines, reach the market.

Fuel Cells, Engines and Hydrogen features a foreword by
Dr Gerry Agnew, Executive VP Engineering of Rolls Royce Fuel Cells
Systems Ltd. It is essential reading for all engineers involved
with fuel cells and/ or the manufacture of hydrogen from natural
gas, as well as academics in related disciplines such as
thermodynamics, physical chemistry, materials, physics, mechanical
and chemical engineering.