Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell

A Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. Since conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion. It is a clean, quiet and highly efficient process- two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.

It operates similarly to a battery, but it does not run down nor does it require recharging As long as fuel is supplied, a Fuel Cell will produce both energy and heat A Fuel Cell consists of two catalyst coated electrodes surrounding an electrolyte. One electrode is an anode and the other is a

cathode The process begins when Hydrogen molecules enter the anode The catalyst coating separates hydrogen’s negatively charged electrons from the positively charged protons The

electrolyte allows the protons to pass through to the cathode, but not the electrons.

Instead the electrons are directed through an external circuit which creates electrical current. While the electrons pass through the external circuit, oxygen molecules pass through the cathode. There the oxygen and the protons combine with the electrons after they have passed through the external circuit. When the oxygen and the protons combine with the electrons it produces water and heat. Individual fuel cells can then be placed in a series to form a fuel cell stack. The stack can be used in a system to power a vehicle or to provide stationary power to a building