Fuel Cell Technology
A fuel cell is a device that runs hydrogen and oxygen through chemical reactions in a process that generates electricity and heat which can be harnessed and captured for use as energy sources. On the outside, a fuel cell often looks like a large basic metallic box; on the inside is a series of “cells” arranged in a stack. Each cell in the stack contains two electrodes: an anode and a cathode, like in a typical battery.
In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity from a fuel source (generally Natural Gas or Hydrogen), with heat, air, and water vapor released as byproducts.
A typical fuel cell works by passing fuel, such as hydrogen, through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode with a catalyst in the middle to separate the fuel molecules into protons and electrons.
- High efficiency, especially when utilizing cogeneration, with the potential to achieve over 80% energy efficiency.
- Fuel cells can provide lower criteria-pollutant emissions than many combustion-based technologies.
Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation, material handling, stationary, portable, and emergency backup power, base load power, and primary power applications.
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