(5302) Eco-Friendly Hydrogen Production
Kiefer Shanks
Lakefield District SS



Abstract


Introduction

As the effects of climate change continue to worsen, the urgency to divert our dependence on fossil fuels has increased. The scientific community has been quick to come up with many notable solutions including such things as the hydrogen fuel cell car, which runs off an electric current harnessed from the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen gas, and who s only emission is water. However the majority of the world s hydrogen comes from natural gas meaning that fuelling a fuel-cell vehicle currently relies on the fossil fuel infrastructure. That element severely stains the environmentally friendly aspect of the fuel cell car, and in comparison to the average auto, not much of an improvement. To fuel the future requires an infrastructure that doesn t rely on fossil fuels and can produce fuel using an environmentally friendly process. The process of electrolysis seems to be one of the best methods. Assuming that the electrical input comes from an environmentally friendly source like wind or solar power, the electrolysis of water could prove itself a valuable asset to saving the planet and our selves.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to investigate the feasibility of building a high-output electrolysis cell for large-scale industrial hydrogen production. This involved research and refinement of process of the electrolysis of water so that it would yield as much hydrogen and oxygen gas as possible.

Hypothesis

By incorporating all variables with innovative design, a high output electrolysis cell can be engineered to demonstrate the feasibility of electrolysis as a way of generating the fuel of the future.

Method/Results

Research was done to design and build a functioning model of an electrolysis cell. The first prototype constructed was used for a number of qualitative tests, which helped in the design of another improved prototype. The new model was tested both qualitatively and quantitatively. The quantitative tests include the rate of gas production as related to the conductivity of the cell s solution, the conductivity being controlled by the concentration of a selected electrolyte. A number of results discovered during the entire process were discussed and a number of suggested improvements were mentioned.