Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

• The cleanest way to use hydrogen as a fuel is it in its pure form; however, before it can be used as a pure fuel, hydrogen must be manufactured from water in a process called electrolysis, or extracted from gases such as fossil fuels; • The best way to release energy from pure hydrogen is through the controlled electro-chemical reaction within a fuel cell; • A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that uses hydrogen or other fuels to produce electricity, water, and heat; • A fuel cell operates much like a battery, but, unlike a battery, it doesn’t consume electrode material or require electrical recharging. • A fuel cell can be scaled to power everything from cell phones to automobiles to entire buildings. to travel across, but not electrons, forcing electrons to travel through the external circuit (electric current). This resulting electric current can be used to power electrical appliances. DID YOU KNOW? • Ford’s first fuel cell car, the P2000, was developed with the support of the Canadian government almost 10 years ago. • NASA has been relying on hydrogen fuel cells since the 1960s. Because they produce abundant electrical power while only emitting heat and water, fuels cells are ideal in a space shuttle environment. In fact, hydrogen fuel cells are so clean, astronauts in space actually drink the water by-product. • Hydrogen accounts for 90% of the universe by weight; it is the simplest element and most plentiful gas in the universe. THE CONVERSION PROCESS According to Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Canada, the basic structure of a fuel cell consists of an electrolyte layer in contact with an anode and a cathode. Typically, fuel is fed continuously to the anode and an oxidant (e.g., oxygen from air) is fed continuously to the cathode. The electrolyte layer acts as a one-way door, allowing either positive or negative ions WHAT IS THE BC HYDROGEN HIGHWAY™? In-depth fuel cell development did not take-off until 1993. Considering it is now only a decade and a half later, the commercialization of this technology is seeing a quick progression. Fact in case: The BC Hydrogen Highway™ — Its purpose? To showcase zero-emissions hydrogen technology. In a nutshell, a hydrogen highway is a chain of hydrogen-equipped filling stations and other infrastructure along a road or highway that allows hydrogen powered vehicles to travel. The vehicles in British Columbia’s case are 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses. BC Transit has signed on to help demonstrate the use of hydrogen fuel-cell buses into the regular operational service of an urban transit system; the hydrogen highway project is the ideal platform for BC Transit to monitor operations, maintenance and fuelling over a sustained period; collected data will also help develop safety regulations and standards. Beyond the unveiling of the highway in 2010, the plan is to connect this road network to similar projects in Alberta and California. The BC Hydrogen Highway™ is planned to link Vancouver and Whistler (the host city and alpine venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics). It is targeted for full implementation by the start of the games in 2008. Seven fueling stations will be used, located in Victoria, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler. 2004 marked the construction establishment of these fuelling facilities. The Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code (CHIC), published in 2007, will facilitate the construction of the hydrogen re-fueling stations between Vancouver and Whistler. This CHIC Code, which was developed by BNQ under the leadership of Mr. Randy Dey from the CCS Global Group Inc., provides Canadians with a much needed tool for defining the requirements of hydrogen installations (for a detailed document go to: www. bnq.qc.ca/documents/communique_ bnq-chic-rncan_en.pdf). Excerpt from link: QUÉBEC, JULY, 2007 — A new Hydrogen Installation Code defining in a comprehensive document the installation requirements of different types of hydrogen installations heralds a new era for the advancement of the Hydrogen Economy in Canada. Until now, hydrogen installations could only be put in place following approval by the competent authority under an exemption procedure, a tedious process both for the owner of the hydrogen installation and the regulatory authority. continued on page 63 SCIENCE 101: Fuel Cell: is a device that produces electricity without combustion. Hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas, water or petroleum products) is combined with oxygen (from air) to produce electrical energy. Anode: the negatively charged terminal of an energy cell or storage battery Cathode: the positively charged terminal of an energy cell or storage battery Proton: a positively charged hydrogen ion Electron: a negatively charged sub-atomic particle Electrolyte: a chemical compound that allows conduction of ions, but not electrons Electrochemical Conversion: an electrochemical process that converts chemical energy to electrical energy A hydrogen fuel cell electrochemically combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, water and heat. There are no other emissions, and less (or zero) emissions means positive action against global warming. Mechanical Contractors Associations of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba & Saskatchewan 2008 59 http://www.bnq.qc.ca/documents/communique_bnq-chic-rncan_en.pdf http://www.bnq.qc.ca/documents/communique_bnq-chic-rncan_en.pdf http://www.bnq.qc.ca/documents/communique_bnq-chic-rncan_en.pdf

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008 Contents MCA Canada Chairman MCA Alberta MCA British Columbia MCA Manitoba MCA Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Demographics & Management Employees Insurance – The Pros & Cons of Subguard® Construction Sector Council Data Richmond Olympic Oval Uses the Ice to Heat Things Up B.C.’s Hydrogen Highway™: The Hydrogen + Fuel Cell Alternative The Manitoba Hydro Tower Project Index to Advertisers

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