A simple guide to the future: Hydrogen fuel cells in RV

Today, there is increasing uncertainty and unrest in the future as we seek to adjust to the new order with economic and social interconnections all over the world. There will be changes in education, automobiles, aquaculture, communications, and medicine. New technologies will open up new jobs and scarce resources will drive new ways to do many things. People will live longer and the way we honor the dead will change. The one thing that we are guaranteed is that change will always be a part of our future. These changes will affect which jobs we pursue and how we manage our lives.

When I am at a campground, they always seems to be a noisy generator running on somebody's motorcoach. It destroys the peace and solitude of nature. Hydrogen fuel cells aren't commercially available today for off grid power but I can't wait for hydrogen fuel cells to replace the gasoline generators that RV users operate to power their systems and appliances.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a natural for RVs since they generate electric power and heat for RV systems. In the future, the whole RV will contain a hydrogen fuel cell to power the vehicle and all the support systems but first a hydrogen fuel cell auxiliary generator. When it is powered by a fuel cell, it will truly become an off grid mobile house.

A gasoline generator operates at approximately 30% efficiency while the least efficient fuel cell  offers about 40% efficiency. The waste heat can be used to power a refrigerator and heat water for showers. The advantage of the hydrogen fuel cell is clear. When you also consider that the fuel cell will operate silently, with no waste products in regenerative systems and minimal waste in others, the fuel cell comes out a clear winner.

Today, RV owners use solar power and wind generators to keep their batteries charged but they don't provide the power to run all their appliances. In order to run the A/C and microwave, they typically start up the gasoline generator if they aren't plugged into 110 power.

Since a fuel cell can produce power on demand, as long as plenty of hydrogen is available, there is no need for storage batteries if the fuel cell generator is large enough to support the electrical system in question. A wind turbine or solar panels could be added to power the water electrolyzer or fuel reformer, and the entire power system would be virtually self contained. You can purchase a micro-CHP power system today for off grid applications but you have to supply the propane or LPG.

Phosphoric Acid fuel cells are by far the most widely used type of fuel cell today. They are primarily used for large back-up and remote power applications in hospitals, schools and other locations where an engine generator would traditionally be used. They operate in the 400ºF range, and can reach 40% power generation efficiency (much higher if byproduct heat and steam are used for other purposes). The RV can be heated along with water for showers and heat used in the refrigeration cycle.

The cost of a 80 kwatt cell for automotive use is projected to come down to $61 per kWatt in the near future with $35 per kWatt being the long term goal. RVs have 3-5kw generators so at 60 per k watt are $180- $300. Today, the fuel cells aren't quite ready to be used as an auxiliary generator for an RV but they are ready to be used in small off grid houses. Several manufacturers are supplying them to schools, hospitals, and industry. Soon, these fuel cells will find other markets like those fuel hungry RVs.