Fuel Cells as an Attempt of a Capitalist Technological Fix. :: Science Energy Papers

Fuel Cells as an Attempt of a capitalist Technological FixOne of the of import variables used when measuring the ecologic impact of a given society, populous, or nation is the variable of technology. Currently, in a world rightfully beseeched with an uncomfortable mix caution and cultism of strength future ecological catastrophe, alternative life force sources ar existence discussed, researched and developed in many advanced industrialized nations as potential ways to technologically postpone or perhaps even stimulate a major impending crisis of global Capitalism. Prospects of continuing our current energy system for any long term or sustainable count of time look to be non-existent since it is based largely on non-renewable fogey open fires that testament run out sometime in the next blow or so, and as they do, it will be necessary for humans to huckster to something for a main source of energy (Harper 2001 243). Possibilities include solar energy, hustle power, incr eased use of hydroelectric power, and, as this paper will concentre on, new technologies such as fuel cells.Fuel cells can be technically defined asbasically a simple device, consisting of cardinal electrodes (anode and cathode) that sandwich an electrolyte (a specialized polymer or other material that allows ions to pass solely blocks electrons). A fuel containing hydrogen flows to the anode where the hydrogen electrons are freed, leaving positively charged ions. The electrons travel through an external circuit while the ions scatter through the electrolyte. At the cathode, the electrons combine with the hydrogen ion and oxygen to form water. (Retseck 1999 ??)In other words, electricity is made by combining hydrogen (contained in spite of appearance the fuel source) with oxygen from outside air. The main two by-products of this process are stir up and water (Motavalli 2000 55), although some models also produce carbon dioxide (Climate 1999 3). Usually, heat is lost, which lead s to great losses in efficiency (Motavalli 2000 55). However, with the properly designed fuel cell, the majority of heat can be captured and reused, creating a double chance on in efficiency, in that less(prenominal) energy is lost due to heat, and less energy is needed as the initial energy is partially reused (ibid).environmentally speaking, this offers many great advantages over other fuel systems, namely, the internal flame engine that is currently used in automobiles in America. Primarily, fuel cells will not produce nearly as many pollutants. Water is the main waste product, which does no harm to the atmosphere when given off.