Fuel Cell Stacks
This is the heart of the hydrogen fuel cell
car—the fuel cell stacks. Their maximum output is 86 kilowatts, or about
107 HP. Because hydrogen fuel cell stacks produce power without
combustion, they can be up to twice as efficient as internal combustion
engines. They also produce zero carbon dioxide and other pollutants. For
more information on the stacks.
Fuel Cell Cooling System
This has several parts. Perched at an angle at the
front of the vehicle is a large radiator for the fuel cell system, while
two radiators for the motor and transmission lie ahead of the front
wheels below the headlights. The car also has a cooling pump located
near the fuel cell stacks to stabilize temperature within the stacks.
Ultra capacitor
This unit serves as a supplementary power source to
the fuel cell stack. Like a large battery, the ultra capacitor recovers
and stores energy generated during deceleration and braking. It uses
this energy to provide a "power assist" during startup and acceleration.
Hydrogen Tanks
Space in a car is limited, yet hydrogen is the most
dispersive element in the universe and normally requires lots of room. A
challenge for manufacturers is how to compress the gas into tanks small
enough to fit in a compact car and yet still provide enough fuel for
hundreds of miles of driving between refueling. The two high-pressure
hydrogen tanks in this vehicle can hold up to 3.75 kilograms of hydrogen
compressed to roughly 5,000 PSI—enough to enable an EPA-rated 190 miles
of driving before refueling, the manufacturer says.
Electric Motor
(General area only—motor not visible) The electric
motor offers a maximum output of 80 kilowatts, enabling a top speed of
about 93 miles per hour. The manufacturer says this vehicle can also
start in subfreezing temperatures (down to about -4°F), a perennial
problem in fuel cell prototypes. Being electric, the engine and the car
as a whole are quiet, with none of the vibration or exhaust noise of a
gas-powered automobile.
Air Pump
(General area only—air pump not visible) Run by a
high-voltage electric motor, this pump supplies air at the appropriate
pressure and flow rate to the fuel cell stacks. The air, in turn, mixes
with the stored hydrogen to create electricity.
Humidifier
The humidifier monitors and maintains the level
of humidity that the fuel cell stack needs to achieve peak operating
efficiency. It does this by recovering some of the water from the
electrochemical reaction that occurs within the fuel cell stack and
recycling it for use in humidification.
Power Control Unit
(General area only—power control unit not
visible) This controls the vehicle’s electrical systems, including the
air and cooling pumps as well as output from the fuel cell stacks,
electric motor, and ultra capacitor.
Cabin
With the fuel cell stacks hidden beneath the
floor and the hydrogen tanks and the ultra capacitor beneath and behind
the rear seats, respectively, the four-passenger cabin is isolated from
all hydrogen and high-voltage lines. Hydrogen gas is colorless and
odorless, and it burns almost invisibly. In case of a leak, therefore,
the manufacturer has placed hydrogen sensors throughout the vehicle to
provide warning and automatic gas shut-off. Also, in the event of a
collision, the electrical source power line shuts down.
Hydrogen Filler Mouth
(Not visible—located on other side of vehicle)
Drivers would fill the car with hydrogen just as they do with gasoline,
through an opening on the side of the vehicle. The main difference is
that a fuel cell car must be grounded before fueling to rid the car of
hazardous static electricity. For this reason, this model has two
side-by-side openings, with the latch to open the hydrogen filler mouth
located inside the opening for the grounding wire. The
manufacturer says filling up this model’s two tanks at a hydrogen
filling station would take about three minutes.
Note
The limited-production vehicle seen in this
feature is a Honda 2005 FCX, which is typical of the kinds of hydrogen
fuel cell automobiles that some major automakers are now researching and
developing. With such vehicles at present costing about $1 million
apiece, none is currently for sale, though hundreds of fuel cell cars
are now undergoing tests on the world’s roads.
2 comments
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