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A Basic Overview Of Fuel Cell Technology.
by Ernest R. Peterson
Are
you tired of high priced gasoline for your car? Or perhaps worried
about the environment? For years, scientists have being working on an
energy alternative that holds promises to change the way we live by
changing the source of fuel for some of our most basic energy-using
engines. This new technology in progress is called a fuel cell. A fuel
cell supplies a DC (direct current) voltage that can be used to power
motors, lights, or any number of electrical appliances.
The
technical name for a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion
device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into
water, and in the process it produces electricity. Other
electrochemical devices that are in use these days and for many decades
is the well-known battery. The distinguishing difference between a
simple battery and a fuel cell is that all the chemicals are stored
inside the battery. The battery in turn converts those chemicals into
electricity but in due course it "goes dead" as the chemicals are used
up and at times you can either throw it away or recharge it.
Then
again with a fuel cell, chemicals continually flow into the cell so as
long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell; the electricity
flows out of the fuel cell. Combustion engines the gasoline engine burn
fuels and batteries converted chemical energy back into electrical
energy when needed. However, fuel cells should do both tasks more
efficiently.
Simply put the construction and materials in a fuel
cell release electrons from the hydrogen gas creating electricity and
the waste product after the electricity is used to power an electrical
device is water, formed with the negative hydrogen and the oxygen.This
reaction in a single fuel cell produces only about 0.7 volts. To get
this voltage up to a reasonable level, several separate fuel cells must
be combined to form a fuel-cell stack.
However one major problem
with using hydrogen is that it is cannot be stored easily for consumer
use. Among the other alternatives, it could be natural gas, propane,
and methanol gas. The main objective of using fuel cell technology is
pollution reduction. Fuel cell is also very efficient; 80% of the fuel
use in these cells is converted into usable energy as compared to only
20% for a gasoline powered engine and about 30% overall for a battery
powered electric vehicle.
Evidently there is no question that
the fuel cell holds greater promise for the future. However, the fuel
cell technology must still gather all the pieces of finding the right
'fuel' source that is both easy to store and deliver to the consumer,
efficiency of the vehicle using fuel cells, and the cost for the total
package.
About the Author
Ernest R. Peterson provides readers
with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for cars, auto
accessories as well as other related information.
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