Sel Fuel@UKM, Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Introduction

The establishment of Fuel Cell Institute, the first research institute in Malaysia conducting research on fuel cell, was approved by the Ministry of Higher Education in July 2006. The institute began officially with the appointment of Prof. Ir. Dr. Hj. Wan Ramli Wan Daud as the founding Director by the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Yg. Bhg. Prof. Dato' Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Sahabudin on 1st January 2007.

The founding of this institute reflected the strength of fuel cell and hydrogen energy research in the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. In the past 12 years, the institute had secured large research grants for the IRPA research fund from the Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), published many papers in indexed and high impact international journals and in national and international conference proceedings. The Founding Director of the Institute was invited to present plenary lectures international and national conferences and seminars on hydrogen energy and fuel cells. The Institute has filed many intellectual properties on fuel cells and hydrogen energy. The founding of Fuel Cell Institute at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia also reflected the strength of research and development in renewable energy at the University especially in solar energy, hydrogen energy and fuel cell.

Objectives of Institute Establishment

To be the national focal centre for advancing indigenous fuel cell and hydrogen energy technology and formulating energy policy and management.

To conduct research, development and project demonstration programs for the production of indigenous fuel cell and hydrogen energy technology and the formulation of energy policy and management.

To promote and to support the development of the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry in Malaysia by providing indigenous technology.

To plan the national fuel cell industry development strategies through the provision of the instrument of governance including national policy, law and resources management.

To be the technology incubator centre for the national fuel cell industry.

To produce skilled human resources in the fields of fuel cell, hydrogen energy and energy policy and management to support the national fuel cell industry.

Fuel Cell Technolgy

Fuel cell is a main energy conversion technology which will replace internal combustion engine technology in future. In fuel cell, chemical energy exists in hydrogen and oxygen will be converted to electrical energy and heat by electrochemistry. This is done through redox reaction in anode and cathode. Since the by-product of this process is water, it promises new energy conversion technology which will have a significant positive impact to the environment and suitable to curb the global warming and climate crisis.

Fig. 1 Fuel Cell System

At this point of writing, the energy conversion's efficiency recorded from the fuel cell is around 40 - 50%. This result is much higher than the efficiency of fire coal generator or internal combustion engine. Apart from that, a fuel cell unit has no moving part except from an air blower which in turn produces less noise, low maintenance cost and durable. At present, various modular designs have being produced from the fuel cell technology which allows user total freedom to add or reduce the power by simply increasing or reducing the module. As conclusion, fuel cell is a clean technology by producing less chemical pollutions. Besides that, fuel cell shows flexibility in its feed consumption by being able to consume pure hydrogen or various fossil fuels; i.e. natural gas and direct methanol. For high temperature Fuel cells, the combination of heat and power are crucial to increase the efficiency.

Sel Fuel@UKM

Announcements

Introduction

Objectives of Institute Establishment

Fuel Cell Technolgy