University of Iowa Looking to Patent Ethanol Fuel Cell
The
University of Iowa, with a grant from the Iowa Energy Center, has been studying
ethanol and its potential use in fuel cells.
Proposals from Iowa state
agencies looking for ways to utilize ethanol as an alternative fuel led
professors at the University of Iowa to propose using it in fuel cells, in place
of methanol. With a $250,000 grant, University of Iowa professors came up with
two methods to use the ethanol in the fuel cell. The "direct" method feeds the
ethanol directly into the fuel cell, while the "indirect" procedure sends the
fuels through a reformer, which produced hydrogen, according to one
researcher.
"Since this program is still in the production phase, the
ethanol fuel cell is not yet cost- effective," said Sanjiv Malhotra, a former
graduate student at University of Iowa. "Until we receive more funding and get
through the research stages, they (ethanol fuel cells) will not offer a lot of
advantages over conventional alternative fuels."
The group has considered
filing for a patent, according to Malhotra, and is attempting to procure funds
from federally funded laboratories to continue research on the
project.
