Hydrogen Fuel Cells
The Fuel of the Future
What is a HYDROGEN Fuel Cell?
Invented in 1839 by William Robert Grove, a fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat, with no combustion. No combustion results in zero emissions at the point of use. Unlike batteries, fuel cells continuously generate electricity as long as they have fuel and an oxidant.
Hydrogen fuel cell systems are rapidly being adopted across industries for their scalable, clean energy performance. These systems are ideal for critical infrastructure, remote installations, and backup power where reliability and low emissions are paramount. For transportation departments and municipalities, fuel cells offer a dependable, long-duration backup power solution that keeps intersections and roadside ITS equipment operational during extended outages.
The Science Behind Fuel Cells? Understanding PEM Fuel Cell technology
PEMFCs use a polymer membrane electrolyte, either water-based or mineral-acid based, with platinum group electrodes. Water-based PEMFCs operate at 80-100°C while high-temperature PEMFCs can reach up to 200°C. They consist of two electrodes with platinum catalyst bonded to a proton exchange membrane. Hydrogen and air flow to the anode and cathode, respectively, producing electricity, water vapor and requiring platinum catalysts due to their acidic nature. PEMFCs are small and light, making them popular in material handling and transportation.
Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are at the core of HyMax’s hydrogen fuel cell technology, offering high-efficiency solutions for telecom backup, off-grid systems, and traffic signal resiliency. This technology is ideal for powering mission-critical roadside systems such as traffic signals, dynamic signage, and advanced transportation monitoring equipment.
How a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Works
Hydrogen is mixed (not burned) with oxygen from the air & in the presence of a catalyst, converts the hydrogen and oxygen to DC electricity and water vapor with zero emissions. Low temperature, fast start times makes the PEM fuel cell ideal for critical traffic, network, and ITS backup power applications. It features an air cooled design, with no moving parts in the fuel cell stack, making for simple and low-cost annual preventative maintenance. These clean-energy systems are increasingly used for off-grid backup power and sustainable microgrids, especially in regions where energy resilience is critical. HyMax PEM fuel cells are a proven alternative to diesel generators for keeping intersections, traffic control cabinets, and surveillance systems online—especially during PSPS events and extreme weather outages.
- The hydrogen atoms enter at the anode.
- The atoms are stripped of their electrons.
- The positively charged protons pass through the membrane to the cathode.
- The negatively charged electrons are forced through a circuit, generating electricity.
- After passing through the circuit, the electrons combine with the protons to generate the hydrogen fuel cell’s byproducts: water and heat.
Hydrogen: Fueling the Fuel Cells
Hydrogen, the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, is considered the most environmentally friendly fuel. Various methods, including steam reformation, electrolysis, and fermentation, produce about 75 million global metric tons of hydrogen every year. Hydrogen gas is provided in industry standard DOT certified steel cylinders. As the core input in hydrogen fuel cell systems, hydrogen enables scalable, renewable energy deployments without the carbon footprint of diesel or gas. HyMax systems use high-pressure hydrogen storage specifically designed for roadside deployment, giving cities and transportation agencies a clean and efficient backup strategy.
Hydrogen Safety
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Safety
Over 9 million tons of hydrogen are safely produced and used annually in the US, with fuel cells increasingly utilized in specialty vehicles, CHP, stationary, backup, and portable power. As the number of deployments grows, safety considerations are paramount, with companies designing structures and components in adherence to strict guidelines and undergoing third-party safety testing to best ensure integrity.
HyMax fuel cell systems are engineered with multiple fail-safes and tested against industry standards to ensure safe operation even in mission-critical environments. From Caltrans-rated cabinets to safety-certified hydrogen enclosures, HyMax prioritizes safety compliance for roadside and municipal applications.
Hydrogen is Lighter than Air and Diffuses Rapidly
Hydrogen has rapid diffusivity, diluting quickly into a non-flammable concentration when released, with a speed of almost 45 mph (20m/s), rising 2 times faster than helium and 6 times faster than natural gas. The laws of physics prevent hydrogen from lingering near a leak or people using hydrogen-fueled equipment unless confined by a poorly ventilated roof or cabinet. Confining hydrogen is very difficult, as it is the lightest element in the universe. Therefore, the opportunity for secondary fires are minimal. This makes HyMax an optimal choice for cities needing dependable but low-risk infrastructure power.
Hydrogen is Similar to Gasoline & Natural Gas
Hydrogen is no more or less dangerous than other flammable fuels available today, including gasoline and natural gas. In fact, some of hydrogen’s differences actually provide a variety of safety benefits compared to gasoline or other types of fuels.
Proven Across Multiple Industries
For over 40 years, hydrogen has been used in vast quantities for industrial and commercial industries. During that time, it has been revolutionized by companies as they have developed an infrastructure to produce, store, transport and utilize hydrogen safely.
Today, hydrogen fuel cell systems are being deployed in telecommunications, remote-area electrification, data centers, and emergency response infrastructure, all benefitting from fuel cells’ silent operation and dependable runtime. HyMax fuel cells are now a trusted source of backup power for city governments, DOTs, and smart transportation infrastructure across the western U.S.
To explore our commercial hydrogen fuel cell backup power system, visit our HyMax 1.1kW Fuel Cell System.
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