Is hydrogen oxygen fuel cell a viable alternative to natural gas fired power plant?

Introduction:
As the population grows, the demand for renewable energy is larger
than ever. In the coming decades, the need for world energy will be
extremely large, increasing as much as 30-35% by
2030(Yergin,2013).Throughout the world, the need for energy is growing with
development. After coal, natural gas supplies the most energy in
USA(eia.gov, 2013). Rising 2.3 percent a year through 2018, coal is now the
fastest growing energy source in the world(Parker & Malik, 2014)

Figure 1 : International Energy Outlook 2013(U.S. Energy Information

Administration)

To meet the energy required for the increasing population, it has become an
absolute necessity to find alternate source of energy that can meet the
energy needed for the world's growing population. As an alternate source of
energy, hydrogen oxygen fuel cell can be considered as it can generate
electricity by converting chemical energy directly intro electrical energy and
also because as a by-product it produces water which is non-pollutant.
In this investigation the background of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and
points of views whether hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is a viable alternative to
natural gas fired power plant are discussed, focusing in the prospect for a
safe and affordable means of energy.
Chemical Background:
Fuel cells are galvanic cells in which the reducing agent and oxidizing
agent(reactants) are available in continuous supply. It converts chemical
energy to electrical energy through redox reaction which can be used for
electricity, heat, and water.

Figure 2 : Schematic Diagram of a fuel cell (intellegent-energy.com)

Like any other cells, the fuel cell contains an anode, cathode, and an
electrolyte. The fuel cells are classified based on their uses and the type of
electrolyte that are used. The main types of fuel cells are polymer exchange
membrane fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, molten-carbonate
fuel cell , phosphoric-acid fuel cell, direct-methanol fuel cell(Nice .et al ,
2000).
How does a hydrogen oxygen fuel cell work?
The operation of a fuel cell is similar to a battery. It only differs in the
fact that the fuel cell is continually supplied with oxygen and hydrogen(Nave,
nd).In the anode, continuous supply of compressed hydrogen gas is provided,
causing the hydrogen gas to go through a catalyst(ehow.com, nd).The
catalyst is used to break down the hydrogen into protons and
electrons(sepuplhs.org, nd). Through the electrolyte, the hydrogen
ions(protons) travel to cathode, and the electrons travels to the cathode
through an external circuit(sepuplhs.org, nd).It is the movement of the
electrons that causes electricity to flow. Water is formed when electrons and
protons gathers up and reacts with oxygen molecule from
cathode(ehow.com, nd). It is mainly water or water vapor that is innocuously
released from the cell.
The half equation for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is :
Anode (negative) side:
2H2 (g)
4H+(aq) + 4e-(aq)
Cathode (positive) side:
O2 (g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e-(aq)
2H2O(l)
Net reaction:
2H2 (g)+ O2 (g)
2H2O

(l)

Since, each individual fuel cell produces only about IV voltage, the fuel cells
are stacked together and linked in series(Adamson & Ann, 2007) as shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of a fuel cell stack (Fuel Cell Today)

Points of views :

Why hydrogen oxygen fuel cell is a viable alternative to natural gas fired
power plant?
Hydrogen oxygen fuel cell are easy to handle with few or no moving
parts(Zhu et al, n.d),unlike natural gas fired power plant which requires
separating plumbing systems and specialized tank generating an expensive
postulation of a high production cost(conserve-energy-future.com, n.d).In
addition, a significant increase in deforestation and groundwater pollution
occurs when a large area is cleared up for the purpose of drilling of wall and
installation of pipes(Gupta aka buzzle.com, 2012).The transportation of
natural gas will require extensive pipeline for long distance transmission of
concentrated sources(Siegel, 2012). However, the cost of fuel cell is still not
markedly lower when compared to internal combustion engine, promoters of
fuel cell have assured that the production of fuel cell will be lower when it is
produced in mass amount and when lower costs of materials are
found(Bucchman, 2011)
Moreover, the production of energy from hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is
favorable to the environment since it only forms water as it's by-product. In
natural gas fired power plant harmful gases are emitted such as carbon
dioxide when burned also methane gas which is a potent greenhouse gas
contributing to the global warming(Siegel, 2002).Along with emissions of
carbon dioxide and methane gas , it also produces nitrogen oxides and sulfur
dioxide worsening the air(Gouw & Human, 2014). Natural gas fired power
plants emits 549 grams(19 ounces) carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour,
according to a study by the scientists from the collected data available from
1997 to 2012(Watts, 2014). A breakdown of natural gas emissions is shown
in figure 4,where carbon dioxide is the most significant greenhouse gas.

Figure 4: The main greenhouse gases(IPCC)

Besides , the extraction of hydrogen is much more reliable for

hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell when compared with natural gas. it is mainly
generate from renewable sources by the help of electricity using a device
called an electrolyzer, which uses electricity to separate water into hydrogen
and oxygen(fchea.org, nd). On the other hand, the reliance on natural gases
to generate power and electricity is disputable due to the non-renewability of
natural gases. At some point in the 2070s, the known reserve of natural gas
reserves will exhaust, considering the current consumption rate of energy
the known reserve of natural gas reserves(edfenergy.com , nd)

Why hydrogen oxygen fuel cell is not a viable alternative to natural gas fired
power plant?
Although components of hydrogen is abundant, hydrogen fuel is not
however readily available which is needed for the fuel cell(Siegel,
2012).Furthermore the transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen is
difficult to fuel the fuel cells (en.fcc.gov.ir, nd) On the contrary the production
of natural gas is ample and almost found worldwide(Aggeliki, 2014) and also
newer methods of extraction has increased its accessibility(Shah,2011)

Another major issue of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is the sensitivity to

its temperature change, at a temperature greater than 100C will make
polymer exchange fuel cell inoperative, as tolerance of such high
temperature might increase the temperature of impurities making it more
active, so durability compared to natural gas fired power plant is
dubious(Karthik, 2011).A further advantage of natural gas power plant is that
it can provide electricity 24 hours, 7 days a week continuously unlike other
sources of renewable energy(Shah, 2011).
Conclusion
As a conclusion hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is a viable alternative to
natural gas fired power plant as it is pollutant-free, renewable, and cheap
when compared to natural gas fired power plant. Once the world runs out of
non-renewable sources, various types of energy will be looked for.
Considering the possibilities of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, it can be the
pioneer of power generation .