The Team Used Xylose - A Simple Plant Sugar

Introduction
Now a days petrol, gasoline, diesel, kerosene oil, CNG, LNG, LPG are commercially and viably use as fuel for automobile and jet fuels all over the world and due to heavily expenses on its exploration and production the cost of petrol is rising day by day and it is very difficult to cope with the rising price for not only a common man but also by a huge multinational organizations. Thats why the scientist, economist and researchers have compelled to think alternative other than petrol. Ethanol also emerges as a bio fuel but still not use on commercial basis but some scientist suggest using Hydrogen as a fuel instead of ethanol and gasoline. Because hydrogen is quite useful and environment friendly as a fuel because no harmful gases produced by the oxidation of hydrogen only water produced.
The team used xylose -- a simple plant sugar1

A team of scientist at Virginia Tech researchers have found a way to produce large amounts of hydrogen inexpensively using a simple plant sugar. Y.H. Percival Zhang, study leader and an associate professor of biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, and his team have produced large quantities of hydrogen in an effort to lessen the dependence of fossil fuels. Zhang and his team used xylose in the study, which is a sugar first isolated from wood. Not only is this form of hydrogen production inexpensive and environmentally friendly, but it can also occur using any source of biomass. Up until now, producing hydrogen gas from biomass was a costly process that didn't yield very much in the end. For this study, Zhang and his team liberated the hydrogen under normal atmospheric pressure and mild reaction conditions at 122 degrees. A group of enzymes -- which were isolated from various microorganisms at extreme temperatures -- were used as biocatalysts to release the hydrogen. The team used xylose to release the hydrogen, which hasn't been used much in the past because most scientists use natural or engineered microorganisms. These cannot create large quantities of hydrogen because the microorganisms grow and reproduce instead of splitting water molecules for the creation of pure hydrogen. The energy stored in Xylose splits water molecules, thus creating very pure hydrogen that can be used by proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The team separated some of the enzymes from their native microorganisms to create a special enzyme mixture. When the enzymes were combined with xylose and a polyphosphate, a large amount of hydrogen was liberated from the xylose. In fact, the team produced about three times as much hydrogen as other hydrogen-producing microorganisms. Our new process could help end our dependence on fossil fuels, said Zhang. "Hydrogen is one of the most important biofuels of the future.
U.S depart of Energy2

Hydrogen (H2) is being explored as a fuel for passenger vehicles. It can be used in fuel cells to power electric motors or burned in internal combustion engines (ICEs). It is an environmentally friendly fuel that has the potential to dramatically reduce our dependence on imported oil, but several significant challenges must be overcome before it can be widely used. Produced Domestically. Hydrogen can be produced domestically from several sources, reducing our
dependence on petroleum imports. Environmentally Friendly. Hydrogen produces no air pollutants or greenhouse gases when used in fuel cells; it produces only nitrogen oxides (NOx) when burned in ICEs. Availability. Hydrogen is only available at a handful of locations, mostly in California, though more hydrogen fuelling stations are planned for the future. Vehicle Cost & Availability. Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which run on hydrogen, are currently more expensive than conventional vehicles, and they are not yet available for sale to the general public. However, costs have decreased significantly, and commercially available FCVs are expected within the next few years. Onboard Fuel Storage. Hydrogen contains much less energy than gasoline or diesel on a per-volume basis, making it difficult to store enough hydrogen onboard an FCV to go as far as a comparable gasoline vehicle between fillips. Some FCVs have recently demonstrated ranges comparable to conventional vehiclesabout 300 to 400 miles between fillipsbut this must be achievable across different vehicle makes and models and without compromising customer expectations of space, performance, safety, or cost.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle3

Now next to using fuel as hydrogen the very big tricky issue is the engine compatible for utilizing hydrogen as a fuel. For this purpose researcher also design a new fuel cell electric vehicle which efficiently use hydrogen as fuel. The composition and working of that engine is as follow: Fuel cell electric vehicles are electric vehicles powered by hydrogen. FCEVs offer performance, range and refill time similar to combustion vehicles, and the quiet operation, zero emissions and power characteristic of battery electric vehicles. FCEVs are the best of both worlds. Major automakers are deploying FCEVs and transit agencies are operating fuel cell buses in California and around the world.
Power and performance

Because they use an electric motor like other electric vehicles, FCEVs have maximum torque at zero MPH.FCEVs accelerate quickly and easily cruise at highway speeds. Their MPG equivalent is impressivetwo to three times as many miles as their combustion counterparts. The driving range is also similar to combustion vehicles, 230-400 miles depending upon the vehicles tank capacity.
Safety is a priority
Automakers conduct extensive safety testing with destructive and non-destructive evaluations at the component, system and vehicle level. FCEVs have several safety systems designed for hydrogen and electric drive to protect passengers and first responders in case of an accident. Cost and availability Beginning in 2015, major automakers will introduce fuel cell electric vehicles to the commercial market in California and other parts of the world, most likely in Germany, Japan, Korea and the Scandinavian countries. Sales prices for these FCEVs have not been announced.
Environmental and energy benefits

Electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, like other advanced technology vehicles, will help us achieve energy and environment goals, including reductions in pollution and emissions that contribute to climate change as well as energy independence and security.
How it works
Automakers and bus builders use fuel cells to power their electric vehicles. They use a particular kind of fuel cell, known as a proton exchange membrane (PEM). The PEM fuel cells are stacked together, like slices in a loaf of bread, to form a fuel cell stack. In its simplest form, a PEM fuel cell is two electrodesthe anode and the cathodeseparated by a catalyst-coated membrane. Hydrogen from the vehicles storage tank enters one side of the fuel cell stack and air on the other side. The hydrogen is naturally attracted to the oxygen in the air. As the hydrogen molecule moves through the stack to get to the oxygen, the catalyst forces the hydrogen to separate into electron and proton. The proton moves through the membrane and the electron moves to the anode. The electricity flows into a power module, which distributes electricity to the electric motor that turns the wheels of the car. The power module also distributes electricity to the air conditioning, sound system and other on-board devices. At the cathode, the electron recombines with the proton, and the hydrogen joins with the oxygen to create the vehicles only tailpipe emissionwater. Fuel cells produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied.
How Toyota Will Be First With a Fuel-Cell Car4

Toyota says it has reduced the cost of fuel cells significantly enough to sell hydrogen cars for under $100,000. Toyota says its made several advances to hydrogen fuel cells that will make them significantly cheaper, and will allow the company to sell a car using the low-pollution technology in 2015 years before its competitors. The car will be expensive: between $50,000 and $100,000. But thats a big improvement over the million-dollar cost of experimental fuel-cell vehicles in years past. Toyota will display a concept version of the carfeaturing a fuel cell instead of an enginethis month at the. While the concept car might not outwardly resemble the final car, the fuel-cell system inside will be worth looking at because it will likely be similar to the one in the production version. Toyota says the fuel-cell system is smaller and uses much less of expensive ingredient platinum than earlier versions. Like a battery, a fuel cell produces electricity. But unlike a battery, it is fed by a tank of hydrogen. Inside the fuel cell, platinum serves as a catalyst that facilitates reactions between the hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity that powers the car and water vapor that comes out of the tailpipe. And while batteries in electric vehicles can take hours to recharge, a hydrogen tank can be refilled in about the time it takes to fill a conventional gas tank. However, that advantage is limited for now because there arent many places to refuel a hydrogen vehicle. Other automakers, including General Motors, plan to sell fuel-cell vehicles starting around 2020, when costs will likely have come down still more, and when there could be more places to refuel. Several governments are funding hydrogen fueling stations. Although there are still challenges to making fuel cells for mass-market vehicles, automakers say they could eventually go a long way toward meeting ever-stricter fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations around the world, as well as requirements that a growing fraction of the cars they
sell in places such as California emit no pollution from their tailpipes. Fuel-cell vehicles might be more attractive than battery-powered vehicles because, in addition to faster refueling times; they typically have a longer driving range. Fuel-cell vehicles could also let consumers take advantage of cheap natural gas in places such as the United States, since natural gas is the least expensive source of hydrogen. While producing hydrogen from natural gas releases carbon dioxide, the emissions would still be about half as much as those from gasoline-powered cars today. Toyota has significantly decreased the amount of platinum needed in fuel cells and could ultimately get the amount down to a level thats comparable to what cars already have in their catalytic converters, says Justin Ward, general manager of powertrain system control at the Toyota Technical Center in Gardena, California. Fuel-cell vehicles wont need catalytic converters because they dont emit pollutants. Toyota reduced the amount of platinum by modifying the catalyst to make it more effective and by developing precise equipment for applying the catalyst to ensure that none is wasted. Years ago we were literally taking spatulas and applying the platinum, Ward says. Another reason the system is cheaper is that it requires fewer fuel cells to be stacked together than previous concept cars did. Toyota accomplished this in part by improving the design of the cell. The electricity-generating reactions inside the cell take place at two electrodes separated by a membrane that allows hydrogen ions to pass from one side of the cell to the other. Toyota engineers modified the membrane to allow protons to pass more freely, which increases the amount of power that each fuel cell can generate. Toyota is extending the cars range between fill-ups by borrowing technology from its hybrid vehicles. Fuel cells, like conventional engines, are at their most efficient when they run at a steady rate, rather than quickly increasing or decreasing power output during acceleration and braking. So Toyota is adding a battery to the hydrogen car to provide boosts of power for acceleration, reducing the strain on the fuel cell.
Conclusion
Having studying through many articles, journals and magazine I finally get the point that in near future the dependence of automobile industry, airplane, ships and other vehicles on petrol, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel will be vanished and they find several other alternative for fuel like hydrogen, ethanol, and biofuel, solar energy, rechargeable batteries etc. But in recent years scientist from all over the world emphasis on using g hydrogen as a fuel and they conducted numerous experiment by using hydrogen as a fuel and get satisfactory results which shows that hydrogen will be a new fuel using by the entire world and numerous world famous automobile manufacturing industries like Toyota, General Motors are in race to developed such a well-suited engine for using hydrogen as a fuel. A very large advantage of using hydrogen as a fuel is it is environment friendly and cant polluted the environment so the increasing greenhouse gasses and effect will be in controlled manner.
REFERENCES
1-http://www.dailytech.com/Virginia Tech.htm 2- http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hydrogen.shtml 3- http://cafcp.org/carsandbuses/aboutFCEVs 4- http://www.technologyreview.com/news/521616/how-toyota-will-be-first-with-a-fuel-cell-car/

The Team Used Xylose - A Simple Plant Sugar

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Introduction

The team used xylose -- a simple plant sugar1

U.S depart of Energy2

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle3

Power and performance

Environmental and energy benefits

How Toyota Will Be First With a Fuel-Cell Car4

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