Fuel Cells - Any ideas?

[kowalski]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has ever put together their own hydrogen fuel cells from those science store kits, or scratch built them. I'd be interested in knowing if such technology is easily adapted to r/c subs. It's used in the german 212A-Klasse subs.

[gerwalk]

I think that as an

I think that as an experimental idea is neat to have a RC sub with fuel cells but not a very practical one!

Those kits you mentioned use a solar panel to hydrolyze water and then a membrane type fuel cell (PEM) where the oxygen and hydrogen from the electrolysis react and produce electricity.

You will need two separate tanks containing oxygen and hydrogen in the sub, or a chemical system that generates both]http://www.subcommittee.com/forum/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[stoene]

I think you need Rideline

I think you need Rideline sp? Weren't you just talking about deep diving sphere Alvin? Now fuel cells. Ambitious

[kowalski]

Nah, no Ritalin needed, I

Nah, no Ritalin needed, I just like them subs, and if that's an illness, most of us here are sick with passion ^-^

[Larry Kuntz]

We have a few different

We have a few different versions of these small fuel cells for class demonstrations here at the U of R Chemical Engineering Department. From what I see they need improvements. There is a need to keep the membrane at a certain moisture level and temperature. The device operates with best efficiency at very, very warm temperatures. ( I thought I heard 100-150 F but don’t quote me on that). The amount of power produced is very small and the efficiency level is ~10%.
The technology I like is the production of hydrogen-on-demand methods. This way the reaction is from chemicals and just when you need it. Pour in the liquid, turn on the pump and in a short time your making lots of hydrogen. There is a neat site to check out about this method at]http://powerandmotoryacht.about.com/boattests/0104duffy/[/url] which describes these methods.

[chuck chesney]

It may not be of

It may not be of immediate help, but I know that several PC makers are in the R&D stages of fuel cell research for use with their laptops. Don't know about the voltage or millamp output levels of the fuel cells that they are working on, or much else in terms of deails. Those are very closely held industrial secrets, but you can almost bet that they will be available before too long.

[Larry Kuntz]

Chuck,
You hit the nail

Chuck,
You hit the nail on the head, low power uses. I do have a project involving a RC model of a bus that demonstrates fuel cell technology. (I was told that I need to help the students/professor with this project). Fuel cells will be viable technology in the near future I believe.