Calculating the efficency of a hydrogen fuel cell

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the efficiency of a small hydrogen fuel cell, with the user struggling to obtain reasonable efficiency results. The user details their calculations for power input (P IN) and output (P OUT), using the formulas P OUT = V x I and efficiency = (P OUT / P IN) x 100. They express confusion over whether to use Joules for both P IN and P OUT for the car and question the accuracy of their force calculation, which involves converting mass to Newtons. The user seeks clarification on their calculations and the proper method for determining force in this context. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities of measuring and calculating efficiency in hydrogen fuel cells.
redsox5
Messages
39
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



I'm trying to calulate the efficency of a small hydrogen fuell cell that I built. I have all of the measurements, but I'm not coming up with a resonable effiency.

Homework Equations



\frac{P OUT}{P IN}x 100

The power to electrolyze the water is the P IN.
3.25 W =2.5 V x .00021 Amps (.21 mA)

We measured the electrical power out finding the voltage and amperage.
P OUT = V x I
2.01 x 10^-4 W=.96 V x .00021 AMPS (.21 mA)

I caulcate the force to be 1.421 N


Then I take the electrical P Out and use it as the P IN for the car

the P IN for the car is the electrical P Out

and the P Out for the car is F x V

To find the % efficiency:

\frac{p Out of the Car}{P in Car} x 100

The avg velocity is .0198 m/s


The Attempt at a Solution




I'm coming up with an unreasonable calculation
 
Physics news on Phys.org
To the Electrical power I'm coming up with:

P IN = 2.5 V x 1.3 AMPS = 3.25 W

P Out = .96 x .00021 amps = 2.01 x 10 ^ -4 W

I'm taking the P Out and using it as the power In for the car.

For the car:

P in = 2.01 x 10^-4 W
P Out = F x V
2.81 x 10^-2 J = 1.421 N x .0198 m/s

P out/ p in x 100
13980 definitely isn't reasonable.
Should my P in and P out for the car both be in Joules?

Also I'm not sure if I'm calculating the force in th right way. We used a spring scale and my measurement was .160 kg. I'm I just supposed to multiply that by 9.8 m/s^2. I know that this way gives me Newtons, but the car isn't being affected by gravity anyways. If someone could look this over I'd appreciate it.
 
can someone just let me know if I'm calculating the force the rigt way?
 
correction: it took 1.3 amps to electroylze the water
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top