Explain Fuel Cells in detail........Don't Copy from Google
Answers
Answer:
Fuse Cells is one of the intel found in Hyperion Base. It is a letter informing about an unstable fuse not to be used and that the fuse must be used as a good and clean energy source.
Answer:
What is a Fuel Cell?
A fuel cell can be defined as an electrochemical cell that generates electrical energy from fuel via an electrochemical reaction. These cells require a continuous input of fuel and an oxidizing agent (generally oxygen) in order to sustain the reactions that generate the electricity. Therefore, these cells can constantly generate electricity until the supply of fuel and oxygen is cut off.
Despite being invented in the year 1838, fuel cells began commercial use only a century later when they were used by NASA to power space capsules and satellites. Today, these devices are used as the primary or secondary source of power for many facilities including industries, commercial buildings, and residential buildings.
A fuel cell is similar to electrochemical cells, which consists of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte. In these cells, the electrolyte enables the movement of the protons.
Working of Fuel Cell
The reaction between hydrogen and oxygen can be used to generate electricity via a fuel cell. Such a cell was used in the Apollo space programme and it served two different purposes – It was used as a fuel source as well as a source of drinking water (the water vapour produced from the cell, when condensed, was fit for human consumption).
The working of this fuel cell involved the passing of hydrogen and oxygen into a concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide via carbon electrodes. The cell reaction can be written as follows:
Cathode Reaction: O2 + 2H2O + 4e– → 4OH–
Anode Reaction: 2H2 + 4OH– → 4H2O + 4e–
Net Cell Reaction: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
However, the reaction rate of this electrochemical reaction is quite low. This issue is overcome with the help of a catalyst such as platinum or palladium. In order to increase the effective surface area, the catalyst is finely divided before being incorporated into the electrodes.
The efficiency of the fuel cell described above in the generation of electricity generally approximates to 70% whereas thermal power plants have an efficiency of 40%. This substantial difference in efficiency is because the generation of electric current in a thermal power plant involves the conversion of water into steam, and the usage of this steam to rotate a turbine. Fuel cells, however, offer a platform for the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy.
Types of Fuel Cells
Despite working similarly, there exist many varieties of fuel cells. Some of these types of fuel cells are discussed in this subsection.
The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell
These cells are also known as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (or PEMFCs).
The temperature range that these cells operate in is between 50oC to 100o
The electrolyte used in PEMFCs is a polymer which has the ability to conduct protons.
A typical PEM fuel cell consists of bipolar plates, a catalyst, electrodes, and the polymer membrane.
Despite having eco-friendly applications in transportation, PEMFCs can also be used for the stationary and portable generation of power.
Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
These fuel cells involve the use of phosphoric acid as an electrolyte in order to channel the H+
The working temperatures of these cells lie in the range of 150oC – 200o
Electrons are forced to travel to the cathode via an external circuit because of the non-conductive nature of phosphoric acid.
Due to the acidic nature of the electrolyte, the components of these cells tend to corrode or oxidize over time.