Hydrolosis
2H
2
O → 2H
2
+ O
2
Fuel Cell:
2H
2
4H
+
+ 4e
-
O
2
+ 4H
+
+ 4e
-
2H
2
O
2H
2
+ O
2
2H
2
O
Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition:
2H
2
O
2
(aq) + CuO(s)
2H
2
O(l) + O
2
(g) + CuO(s)
Glass syringe for reduced friction
Arduino for increased accuracy
State of the art hydrogen fuel cell
H
2
produced on-site with hydrolyzer
Stir plate powered by small fan
Power is provided by a hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen is produced by a
hydrolyzer which splits water to create hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. A
fuel cylinder is filled with the hydrogen gas and serves as the power for
the fuel cell. The actual fuel cell works by splitting the hydrogen gas
through a membrane and rerouting the electrons through an external
circuit. The electrons then recombine with the hydrogen and oxygen gas
(obtained from the environment) to produce water, which is the only
waste product of the reaction. Control of the power from the fuel cell to
the motor is automated by an Arduino Uno.
Hydrogen peroxide decomposition produces oxygen gas as a waste
product as well as water. The oxygen gas produces pressure which fills a
glass syringe. The reaction is catalyzed by copper oxide, and the speed
of the reaction can be controlled by the amount of copper oxide added
which allows us to time the reaction. The glass syringe’s plunger moves
out as gas fills the syringe and a magnet is attached to the plunger.
When this magnet gets close enough to another magnet, which is
connected to the Arduino, the Arduino is signaled to stop the motor of the
car.
.
Team Members
Graduate Advisors: Alex Bertuccio
Faculty Advisor: Professor Michael Domach
Special Thanks To: Xavier Artache, Anna
Bandecca, Josh Kubiak
Unique Features
Chemical Reactions
All electrical connections and metal wires
are enclosed in plastic to prevent shock.
All components which may cause
pinching are enclosed in a wire cage to
prevent injury.
Secondary containment to prevent
chemical spills
JSA information and Material Safety
Data Sheets are available upon request.
Safety Information
Spare Parts
Carnegie Mellon University
.
Sujay Desai
Benjamin Contesse
Jack Ronayne
Sunjeev Kale
Sanjna Bhartiya
Olivia Bosquet
Initial Design Schematics
Future Goals
Wireless data transfer.
Automatic injection of stopping
mechanism chemicals
Testing Data
Driving Reaction Details: Hydrogen Fuell Cell
Stopping Reaction Details: Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition