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Technology Assets (Research at the University of Missouri)
PPEM Fuel Cells
A Brief History
Although fuel cells have been around since 1839, it took 120 years for NASA to demonstrate some of
the potential applications in providing power during space flights. In the 1960`s as a result of these
successes, industry began to recognize the commercial potential of fuel cells. However fuel cells were
not economically competitive with existing energy technologies because of technical barriers and high
investment costs. Since1984, in conjunction with the efforts of the US Department of Energy,
hundreds of companies around the world are now working towards making fuel cell technology pay off.
Just as in the commercialization of the electric light bulb nearly 100 hundred years ago; today`s
companies are driven by technical, economic and social forces establishing reliability, durability, low
cost and environmental benefits.
The US market for fuel cells and related products will rise by 400% through 2004 to $2.4 billion. 50%
of this market represents fuel cell stacks. To date practical applications for fuel cells have been limited
primarily to the aerospace sector - in particular as a power source for the space shuttle and other
space vehicles as well as some smaller scale electric power generation systems.
The fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. It is 2-3 times more efficient than an
internal combustion engine in converting fuel to power. A fuel cell produces electricity, water and heat
using fuel and oxygen in the air, with water being the only emission when hydrogen is the fuel. There
are five basic fuel cell chemistries classified by electrolyte composition competing for commercial
viability:
Polymer Proton Exchange Membrane (PPEM);
Solid oxide ceramic;
Molten carbonate;
Phosphoric acid
Alkaline
The fuel cell industry is presently in a very early stage of development, featuring much participation on
the part of the small startup or research technology based companies; such as Fuel Cell Energy,
Manhattan Scientifics and Plug Power, A number of larger firms are involved including Avista, Dupont
(supplier of the PPEM membrane material), General Electric, Honeywell, United Technologies as well
as concerns such as Ballard Power Systems of Canada, Siemens and most of the world`s automobile
manufacturers. Also promoting development of the fuel cell technology in the US area host of
non-private sector entities including various Federal government agencies such as the Department of
Energy, educational institutions, such as Georgetown University, Texas A & M, and research oriented
organizations such as Las Alamos National Laboratory.
The best growth opportunities for PPEM would appear to reside in the motor vehicle area; specifically
zero and low emission vehicles where most observers believe the technology has the best potential for
large-scale commercialization in the near term. (Ford Motor Company reports 8/98 refer) The
advantage of the PPEM over competitive fuel cell chemistries is its ability to handle sharp variations in
power requirements such as those involved in starting a car or boosting high energy densities, allowing
them to be fabricated in smaller configurations such as in wireless phones, camcorders and other
devices.
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