Are Hydrogen Powered Things Efficient?
Efficiency measures the amount of work an engine delivers compared to the amount of energy it takes to run. The efficiency of a hydrogen-powered device depends on how the device works.
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Function
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When hydrogen burns or combines with oxygen, energy is released as heat and light. Fuel cells also combine hydrogen with oxygen, but in a different way. The hydrogen gives up electrons and travels through a membrane; on the other side, the hydrogen ions combine with oxygen and the electrons they lost earlier to form water. The flow of electrons through a wire can power a motor in a car.
Effects
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Hydrogen-powered vehicles or devices aren't necessarily more efficient than the alternatives; instead, their efficiency depends on design and construction. According to Georgia State University, however, fuel cells are typically more efficient than heat engines. Consequently, hydrogen-powered vehicles can be more efficient if they are designed using fuel cells.
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Considerations
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It follows from the laws of thermodynamics that energy from burning hydrogen cannot exceed the amount of energy required to make hydrogen by splitting water, so efficiency also depends on how hydrogen is produced. If solar power could be harnessed for this purpose, hydrogen production could become a way to store solar energy.
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References
- Photo Credit water drop and water rings image by glgec from Fotolia.com
