The Effect of Liquid Hydrogen Carriers and Temperature on Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The objective of this experiment was to determine if there was a significant difference in voltage output from hydrogen fuel cells containing three different liquid hydrogen carriers—sodium hydroxide (NaOH), water (H2O), and ethanol (CH3CH2OH)—and if there was a significant difference in voltage output between 10°C and 50°C. To do this, the liquid hydrogen carriers were first exposed to extreme temperatures until the temperature of the liquid hydrogen carriers reached the desired temperature of either 10°C or 50°C. Then two platinum wires were suspended into each of the liquid hydrogen carriers which completed the circuit consisting of a power supply set at nine volts, two voltage probes, two alligator clips, and a lab quest (to collect data in volts). One Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used to determine if there was any significant difference between the voltages produced by different types of liquid hydrogen carriers in hydrogen fuel cells. Three ANOVA tests were used to determine if there was any significant difference between the hydrogen fuel cells when exposed to high or low temperatures. Overall, there was a significant difference in the voltages produced at room temperature by the different liquid hydrogen carriers. Ethanol fuel cells produced the highest voltage and the sodium hydroxide fuel cells produced the lowest voltage. There was also a significant difference in each of the types of fuel cells with varied temperatures. In each test, a lower temperature fuel cell produced a higher voltage as opposed to the high temperature fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel cells provide an alternate source of energy that is clean and efficient. Ideally, hydrogen fuel cells will eventually be used to replace fossil fuels.

Research Done By:

Amanda Ladach
Cousino High School

Kevin Yu
Sterling Heights High School

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