Q:I need to do an oral presentation at school howver I only seem to come across with websites explainig topics about chemestry processes that occur in fuel cells. What I really need is something about physics

The real physics here involves electricity. In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen combines with oxygen, and gives off two electrons that are conducted to a battery or whatever it is powering.

Q:i was wondering how do fuel cells work ( racing ones of course).more specifically the pump, does it have a fuel pump built into it or is it a option or do you have to have a external fuel pump any answer are appreciated and any suggestions on cells and pump would be nice to thank you

fuel cells have a sponge-like material inside of them that holds the fuel for two reasons. One is so that the fuel doesn't slosh from side to side during racing. This sloshing could cause the fuel to move away from the pick up tube and air would be sucked into the fuel line causing a power loss. The other reason is safety. In an accident, the fuel would be held into the sponge even if the tank is ripped apart. This keeps raw fuel from dumping onto the track or hot exhaust and creating a fire. You can get fuel cells with an internal electrical pump or they can be used with external electrical or mechanical fuel pumps. It depends on the type of racing and the rules of the governing race commission. Most associations (like Nascar) don't like the idea of an electric fuel pump because it will pump fuel even if the engine has died, so in an accident where the fuel line is broken the pump would spray gas out until the key is turned off, not safe.that is why mechanical pumps are used. If the engine dies, so does the fuel pump.

Q:and when will the smartcar come out in the USA this year, i'm thinkin of gettin one

General Motors is leasing out a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in selected markets starting this summer. They will not sell them to the public, or lease them to people outside the three test cities, but the results of this large-scale test program may determine whether they will continue developing fuel cell cars for the future.

Q:Disregarding battery technology, can a hydrogen, alcohol, or other interesting fuel cell be built with simple parts?Looking for interesting, and creative answers.Thanx

Sort of. You'll need some parts from an Internet company, and some methanol (from Home Depot or whatever), but- yes, you can make a working fuel cell. See link below.

Q:Any info on price (hopefully under $100K) or fueling stations will be helpful?THANKS A LOT

I wouldn't count on it for at least 20 years. There are many problems with hydrogen cars. For starters, where to get the hydrogen from. Once you get it, you need to be able to transport and store it (at hydrogen fueling stations). That kind of infrastructure would cost billions to build. Then you need an affordable fuel cell, which is a problem because currently they use platinum, which is why the FCX is *leasing* for $600/month. See the first link below for further details. Electric vehicles are a much better option for the near future. See the second link for details.

Q:I want to build a factory stock car, and was wondering if 1 gallon would be too small and I should go bigger?

Why would you put a one gallon fuel cell? To save weight? Fuel weighs about 6LBS a gallon. Seems like you would run the risk of fuel starvation. I'd put in a larger tank and only run what fuel you need. Maybe that's 1 lbs more in aluminum. Just don't eat crappy food.

Q:The status of fuel cells

70 years in the space industry, driven by the study of China's fuel cell has shown a first climax. In the meantime, two types of alkaline asbestos film type hydrogen fuel cell system (kilowatt class AFC) developed by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, passed the routine aerospace environment simulation test.

Q:Hydrogen fuel cells are supposed to be a clean, green, renewable alternative to combustion engines, but-H20 is a greenhouse gas, so the globe will still warm.-H2 production requires either electrolysis or natural gas. Electrolysis is inefficient and requires lots of electrical energy which requires natural gas, nuclear facilities, etc. Even with the use of natural gas, H2 production will still be quite messy and nonrenewable.-The logistics of H2 distribution will introduce tremendous costs to the federal government and provide a new petri dish for monopoly.I know that the experts recognize these obstacles and see ways around them, but I'd just like an explanation better than that on Discovery Channel.

the hope is that the required electricity would come from renewable sources like solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity etc. but since those sources make up a tiny fraction of where our power comes from, at least for now, it's pretty pointless and doesn't really conserve anything

Q:Couldnt you use that outputted h2o, and seperate hydrogen and oxygen by electrosys or whatever, and find a way to refine that in teh automobile, and therefore have a source of renewable fuel?

The water cycle can cope with any of this water vapor. that may no longer the situation with hydrogen gas cells. the subject concerns comprise development the astounding tanks for the pressurized hydrogen, having an infrastructure so as that clientele can certainly get hydrogen gas, and producing gas cellular vehicles that are much less costly adequate to be client-friendly.

Q:I live in alaska and am afraid when the cold hits my fuel cell (witch saves MPG) will freeze and not workare their any Solutions??Thank you all

heater