Fuel Cells as a Public Good

Introduction

Engineers possess an indispensable role in today's society. Not only do they research, design, and test the products of today, but they also pave the way for future technological advances in all areas of industry. While the majority of these products are designed with the private consumer in mind, they can also benefit the greater good of the public. Mechanical engineering, my chosen field of study, is definitely no exception to this rule and it even, arguably, accounts for some of the greatest contributions to society. For example, a current major area of research is in the application of fuel cells as an alternative to fossil fuels. Not only will fuel cells serve as private goods, but they will also function as public goods as well. But before one can fully understand the extents of this, it is necessary to understand what exactly a "public good" and "private good" are.

Definition of Public Good

Most apparently, public goods lack clearly identifiable owners. Also, in Le Monde Diplomatique, a public good is defined as "non-excludable and non-rival in consumption" (What is a Public Good?, 2000, n.p.). "Non-excludable" means that it is not possible to prevent anyone from using the good once it is available to the public. In the case of air, this is obviously true, as it cannot be contained and the usage regulated. Furthermore, "non-rival" means that one person's consumption of that good does not reduce the quantity available for consumption by other people. Since the amount of air available for breathing is an infinite quantity, it is not a rival good--or something that must be competed for. Goods that possess these qualities absolutely are called "pure" public goods ("Public Good", 2005, n.p.). But most public goods, however, do not fully meet these requirements. Public transportation systems, for example, are non-rival because no individual's use will detract from the use of other passengers, but they are excludable because it does require a small fare to use the service, and not everyone may be able to afford the service. Nevertheless, many public goods originate from "private goods".

Definition of Private Good

A "private good", on the other hand, has a clearly identifiable owner. These are the types of goods that are typically bought and sold in retail markets through the exchange of money. Unlike public goods, private goods are excludable and tend to be rival. If a bus is purchased from the manufacturer, it will be a private good from the aspect that the owner can choose who he allows to drive the bus, and when one person is driving the bus no one else can use it. On the other hand, if the bus is utilized as part of the public transportation system, it becomes a public good because it now is available to anyone who desires to use it.

Different Meanings of Public Good

Now the term "public good" can mean, in an economic sense, a physical object such as a street sign or road, but it can also be used as an expression to mean "an application of a collective ethical notion of 'the good' in decision-making" ("Public Good", 2005, n.p.). For example, having a speed limit may not be a physical object, but it is a "public good" in the sense that it is good for the safety of the general public. While mechanical engineers primarily design and create private goods, many of these private goods can also be considered public goods both in a physical and conceptual context.

Physically, mechanical engineers design many products which can be classified as public goods, such as the aforementioned bus. But in this process they must take into account what would be best for the good of the public, or "public good". If product fails and causes injury to a consumer, it is possible that this could be due to a flaw that was overlooked during design. Now there are also many other reasons that a product could fail, such as misuse by the consumer, but the blame is often still placed on the engineer. Therefore, it is the engineer's responsibility to produce a good that not only serves its intended purpose, but does so in a manner that is safe and for the good of the public.

But safety is not the only way that an engineer should have the common good of the public in mind. Other aspects such as investment quality and economical demands must be considered. Recently, one of the most significant increases is in the cost of petroleum-based fuel sources. In an attempt to subdue these rising fuel costs, mechanical engineers have been working on developing hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative energy source.

Fuel Cell Components and Operation

In order to comprehend the potential of fuel cells as a future energy source, it is necessary to know what a fuel cell is composed of, and the basics of how it works. Put simply, a fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts energy into electricity and heat without combustion. In other words, it works like a battery, except that the supply of electrical charge is never diminished. As long as fuel is supplied, energy in the form of electricity and heat will be produced. Therefore, fuel cells will be extremely important to future generations in regards to generating power. But the design of fuel cells did not come about effortlessly. Billions of dollars have gone into fuel cell research and many years of development by multitudes of mechanical engineers have led to the design of fuel cells.

While there are variations in what is believed to be the best design for

fuel cells, all designs possess the same basic parts and function in the

same basic manner. Fundamentally, a fuel cell is made up of two

electrodes on opposite sides of an electrolyte, as shown in Figure A.

Note. From "Types of Fuel Cells", 2004, Retrieved November 17, 2005

from the World Wide Web: http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/fc_types.html

The hydrogen gas passes over one electrode, and oxygen gas obtained from the surrounding air over the other. The hydrogen fuel is always fed into the anode of the fuel cell, and oxygen enters through the cathode side. With the assistance of a catalyst, the hydrogen