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Q:During a recent blackout, my neighbor and I kicked around the idea of alternative power sources. Besides solar and wind, he mentioned fuel cells, which I hadn’t heard much about. What is a fuel cell, how is it used, and how is it different from other energy sources?
A : A fuel cell create electricity through a cognitive operation that transmute energy created from a chemical chemical reaction between a fuel ( usually hydrogen ) and an oxidizing factor ( typically O ) . Though fuel cells are n’t used as widely as more traditional ability generation source , such as fossil fuels or atomic number 3 - ion batteries , they have a broad range of applications . Although they do not involve recharge like shelling , they do need a fuel supplying to grow electrical energy .
In transportation , fuel cells power cars , trucks , trains , and even submarines . You ’ll also find them wait on as main Department of Energy sources for residential and commercial-grade construction in rural area that are off the gridiron . Hospitals , data centers , and even market stores utilise them as backup power generation solutions , secure the businesses have electrical energy in the event of apower nonstarter .
What is a fuel cell?
Unlike a lithium - ion battery , which stores energy , a fuel cell creates chemical get-up-and-go through an electrochemical reaction between fuel ( usually hydrogen ) and the O in the circumvent air . When atomic number 1 and oxygen speck combine , the chemical reaction releases a massive amount of muscularity . In fact , the chemic response between the two elements is so hefty that it can send rockets into space .
When this energy is routed through a fuel cell ( instead of being used to create an plosion ) , the reaction creates electrical energy and high temperature . When the chemical substance reaction is large enough , it can make enough electricity to move a vehicle or supply power to a building .
How does a fuel cell work?
Fuel cells usefour basic partsto create energy : the anode , cathode , electrolyte , and accelerator . In a H fuel cell , the most common type , hydrogen atoms enter the fuel cell at the anode . Once inside the anode , a accelerator , usually platinum , separates the hydrogen speck into electrons and protons .
The electrons are then forced through a circuit , creating electrical energy that can power an electric automobile , hospital , or flat edifice . After exiting the circuit , the electrons arrive at the cathode , where they reunite with the protons and merge with O to create the response ’s spin-off of pee and heat .
What are the benefits of fuel cells?
Fuel cells have several eye - popping benefits . They burn no fossil fuel , give rise no contamination , and get twice the gas mileage of battery - powered cars . ( We should observe that the process of create the necessary hydrogen for fuel cells is n’t 100 - percent clean but is comparable to atomic number 3 - ion battery expelling and far cleaner than burning dodo fuels ) . Whereas atomic number 3 - ion battery take hours to reload , you’re able to refill a tank of hydrogen in 5 second or less , similar to the fourth dimension require to fill a gas storage tank with leadless fuel .
Given these benefits , why are we watch so many battery - powered Teslas on the road and very few H car ? Many state have n’t invested in hydrogen fueling stations because they ’re so expensive to make . It costsnearly $ 2 millionto build up a H refueling station . As such , there are presently fewer than 70 hydrogen fueling Stations of the Cross in the country , about all of which are in California . In compare , you’re able to buck a car powered by a Li - ion shelling by plug it into a stock mightiness outlet at home .
Fuel cellular telephone see more widespread consumption as stationary powerfulness source . They ’re far more efficient than traditional mightiness industrial plant that burn fossil fuels . According to theU.S. Department of Energy , fuel cellular phone system can engender electricity with efficiency of up to 60 percent , far large than the 33 to 35 percent efficiency of a traditional power plant .
Photo: istockphoto.com
7 Types of Fuel Cells to Know
While the polymer electrolyte tissue layer ( PEM ) may be the most common among the types of fuel mobile phone , there are six other examples of fuel cells that have pave the way for today ’s fuel cellular telephone engineering , are currently in role , or are under development :
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Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
