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Solar Hydrogen Science Kit

Elementary School Middle School High School

The Solar Hydrogen Science Kit lets students invent their own clean energy applications using fuel cells and renewable hydrogen created using solar energy and water.

FCJJ-16 Solar Hydrogen Science Kit

Solar Hydrogen Science Kit - product overview

The Solar Hydrogen Science Kit lets students invent their own clean energy applications using fuel cells and renewable hydrogen created using solar energy and water. The kit also comes with a small electric motor and propeller blade as the starting point for motorized applications you can build using your futuristic solar energy storage device. The set comes with a complete curriculum on renewable energy with easy to follow experiment manual, assembly guide, flash animations, and background history on the technology.

 

  • Explore series and parallel circuits and other physics concepts with renewable enrgy power from a fuel cell and solar panel.
  • Use the power of the Sun to split water and generate hydrogen gas while learning about chemistry concepts. 

 

Why Fuel Cells and Hydrogen?

Fuel cells can be thought of as alternative energy devices that unlock the power of hydrogen. They convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Hydrogen fuel cells do this very cleanly, with no toxic emissions, and with a high efficiency. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies have many potential clean energy applications –from running our vehicles, to powering our cellular phones and laptops, to heating our hospitals and homes.

Fuel cells do not generate energy out of thin air. They use hydrogen. Hydrogen is an outstanding carrier of energy. Hydrogen is non-toxic, renewable, easily obtained, and packed with energy. When it combusts with oxygen, it turns into water. This water can again be split into hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis. The generated hydrogen can be combusted once again, thus undergoing a limitless cycle without toxic emissions. With a fuel cell, you can convert hydrogen into electric current without combustion.
Fossil fuels are converted into usable energy through combustion. The energy released during combustion is inherently difficult to capture and inefficient. It also produces carbon dioxide, which cannot easily be converted back into a usable fuel. A fossil fuel combustion engine at a power plant is only about 30 to 40% efficient. This means it coverts only 30 to 40% of the energy in the fossil fuels to usable energy (electricity). Engines in a car are even less efficient, and reach the level of 15 to 20% of efficiency. Where does the rest of the energy go? It escapes as heat, vibration, and noise. 

On the other hand, fuel cells can operate at 40 to 65% efficiency. This means that they can convert 40 to 65% of the energy contained in hydrogen into electricity.
The development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and products around the world will improve the air we breathe, ensure secure and reliable energy, reduce the emissions that cause climate change and create highly skilled jobs.

FCJJ-16 Solar Hydrogen Education Kit

Curriculum

What is included in the horizon energy curriculum? The lab equipment is just the beginning. We’ve built the horizon energy curriculum to provide teachers with multiple resources for engaging their students.

Materials provided

  • Hands-on Lab Activities
  • Teacher's Guide
  • Student's Guide

Concepts covered

Chemistry

Chemistry Concepts

Electrolysis, Energy, Hydrogen Generation, Reaction Rates, Reaction Yield,  Semiconductors, Stoichiometry

Physics

Physics Concepts

Electric Circuits, Energy, Light, Ohm's Law, Parallel Circuits, Power (Electric),  Series Circuits

Earth

Earth Science Concepts

Renewable Energy

Downloads

Datasheet

pdf [1.84 MB]
pdf [2.16 MB]

User Manual

pdf [773.1 kB]

Teacher's Guide You need to be Logged in to download these files

pdf [740 kB]
pdf [730.74 kB]
pdf [709.44 kB]
pdf [699.16 kB]

Student's Guide You need to be Logged in to download these files

pdf [565.2 kB]
pdf [549.84 kB]
pdf [545.98 kB]
pdf [534.54 kB]

Buy Solar Hydrogen Science Kit

  • Training videos
  • Curriculum
    Experiments 10
    Lesson time 4-6 hours
    Teacher's guide 29 pages
    Student's guide 21 pages
Solar Hydrogen Science Kit

$144

Total

$144

Solar Hydrogen Science Kit - FAQ

1. The water levels do not drop when the gas outlet tubes on both sides of the reversible fuel cell are unplugged.

Check whether the holes on the wall of the inner cylinder are blocked. If so, turn the inner cylinder until water enters the holes and fills up the inner cylinder.

2. The reversible fuel cell does not produce hydrogen and/or oxygen.

Check whether the wires are appropriately connected, and whether there are any loose connections. The reversible fuel cell could be completely destroyed if the red wire of the battery pack is connected to the black jack of the reversible fuel cell.

Make sure the batteries are inserted with the correct polarity.

Replace the old batteries with new one in the battery pack.

3. The water electrolysis process slows down.

Inject water to the oxygen side of the reversible fuel cell by using the syringe and wait for about 3 minutes.

Replace the old batteries with new one in the battery pack.

4. The motor does not run while there is hydrogen left in the inner container.

Unplug the black pin of the short tube on the reversible fuel cell and quickly attach the pin back to the tube to purge out impure gases. You should then see the motor begin to turn again.

5. No hydrogen is produced under the sunlight.

If the sunlight is not strong enough electricity will not be created. Use the battery pack provided to perform the electrolysis using the reversible fuel cell.

Kit Content

✔ Reversible PEM fuel cell
✔ Reversible PEM fuel cell base
✔ Hydrogen and oxygen tanks
✔ Inner gas containers
✔ Water/gas tank module base
✔ Transparent silicon tubing
✔ Flexible 2mm banana connecting leads

✔ Plastic plug pins for fuel cell
✔ Battery pack with connecting leads
✔ Syringe
✔ Motor and fan with propeller blade
✔ 1 Watt solar panel
✔ Assembly instructions
✔ CD with curriculum manuals

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