A Basic Overview Of Fuel Cell Technology

For years, scientists have being focusing on a power alternative that holds promises to improve just how we live by changing the foundation of fuel for a few of our most elementary energy-using engines. This new technology happening is named a fuel cell. A fuel cell gives a DC (direct current) voltage which you can use to power motors, lights, or a variety of electrical appliances.

The technical name for a fuel cell can be an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and along the way it produces electricity. Other electrochemical devices which are in use nowadays and for most decades may be the well-known battery. The distinguishing difference between a straightforward battery and a fuel cell is that the chemicals are stored in the battery. The battery subsequently converts those chemicals into electricity however in due course it "goes dead" because the chemicals are employed up and sometimes it is possible to either throw it away or recharge it.

Then again with a fuel cell, chemicals continually flow in to the cell in order long as there exists a flow of chemicals in to the cell; the electricity flows from the fuel cell. Combustion engines the gasoline engine burn fuels and batteries converted chemical energy back to electricity when needed. However, fuel cells must do both tasks better.

Simply put the construction and materials in a fuel cell release electrons from the hydrogen gas creating electricity and the waste product following the electricity can be used to power a power device is water, formed with the negative hydrogen and the oxygen.This reaction within a fuel cell produces no more than 0.7 volts. To obtain this voltage up to reasonable level, several separate fuel cells should be combined to create a fuel-cell stack.

However one significant problem with using hydrogen is that it's can't be stored easily for consumer use. On the list of other alternatives, it may be gas, propane, and methanol gas. The primary objective of using fuel cell technology is pollution reduction. Fuel cell can be very efficient; 80% of the fuel used in these cells is changed into usable energy in comparison with only 20% for a gasoline powered engine and about 30% overall for a battery powered electric vehicle.

Evidently there is absolutely no question that the fuel cell holds greater promise for future years. However, the fuel cell technology must still gather all of the pieces of choosing the best 'fuel' source that's both an easy task to store and deliver to the buyer, efficiency of the automobile using fuel cells, and the price for the full total package.