It’s not unusual to see chemical engineering professor John Weidner cruising across campus on a Segway transporter—the large wheels whirring silently as the battery-powered motor propels him along.
What is unusual is how far Weidner’s Segway can go. Unlike regular Segways that are limited by the charge on their batteries (about an hour or two at top speed), Weidner’s is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electricity and continues to charge the Segway’s battery system all day. The fuel cell—developed and installed in a Carolina lab—effectively extends the range of his Segway without burning fossil fuels and without emitting greenhouse gases.
“People hear about hydrogen fuel cells, but most never see one in action,” said Weidner, who conducts research on several aspects of fuel cell development at Carolina. “We wanted to demonstrate a practical application for a fuel cell that everyone could readily understand.”
The fuel cell-equipped Segway represents only the tip of the iceberg of alternative energy research at Carolina. In fact, you might be surprised to learn how much scientists at the University are doing to develop cleaner, more efficient ways to make electricity and develop energy systems—like fuel cells—that could one day bring an end to the pain at the gas pump we all feel now.
“The energy problems we face are complex, and the solutions are going to be equally complex—there won’t be one magic bullet,” said Michael Amiridis, dean of Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing.
“That’s why we’re focusing our research on several areas: fuel cells, next-generation battery development, nuclear energy, photovoltaic cells, sustainable carbon usage, biomass, and energy conservation and efficiency. All of these are interconnected and could be part of the overall solution.”
So here’s a look at energy research at the University of South Carolina—home of the nation’s only industry/university cooperative fuel cell research center and a hotbed of discovery in the development of emerging solutions for the energy crisis.
NEXT PAGE > |
