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Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells convert an electrochemical reaction to electticity. There are applications that are sationary, portable and those used in transportation. All Fuel Cells are composed of an anode, cathode and electrolyte and are typically characterized by the composition of he electrolyte. The most common is the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). Others are Phospheric Acid (PAFC), Solid Oxide (SOFC), Molten Carbonate (MCFC) and Direct Methane (DMFC).

387 Questions

Can you use hydrogen peroxyde in a fuel cell?

Hydrogen peroxide can be used in certain types of fuel cells called direct borohydride fuel cells. In these fuel cells, hydrogen peroxide is used as an oxidant in place of oxygen. However, the efficiency and practicality of using hydrogen peroxide in fuel cells is still being researched and developed.

What are fuel cells in a neclear reactor?

Fuel cells in a nuclear reactor are the structural components where nuclear fission reactions occur, generating heat. This heat is used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. The fuel cells contain the nuclear fuel (such as uranium) and control rods to regulate the nuclear reactions.

What do hydrogen fuel cells burn with?

Hydrogen fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat, and water as byproducts. This process is known as electrochemical conversion.

What precious metal is currently used in fuel cells?

Platinum is currently used in fuel cells as a catalyst to facilitate the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. However, research is ongoing to reduce or replace the use of platinum due to its high cost and limited availability.

Is sodium hydroxide a electrolyte in fuel cell?

Yes, sodium hydroxide is an electrolyte commonly used in fuel cells. It helps to facilitate the flow of ions between the electrodes, allowing the fuel cell to generate electricity efficiently.

Why is it correct to classify the fuel cell that you have costructed as a voltaic cell?

A fuel cell operates based on the same principle as a voltaic cell; it generates electricity through a chemical reaction. In a fuel cell, chemical energy from the fuel is directly converted to electrical energy without combustion, making it similar to a voltaic cell that uses redox reactions to generate electrical energy. Therefore, it is correct to classify a fuel cell as a type of voltaic cell.

What is the effect if a bulb is broken in a parallel or series circuit?

parallel circuit: Providing that the breakage does not result in a short circuit the other bulbs will still light.

series circuit: If the breakage results in a short circuit through the bulb the other bulbs will light more brightly. If the breakage results in a breakage of the connection through the bulb then the other bulbs will not light.

How is potassium hydroxide used in hydrogen fuel cells?

Potassium hydroxide is used as an electrolyte in hydrogen fuel cells to facilitate the movement of ions between the electrodes and generate electricity. It helps to enhance the conductivity of the cell and improve overall efficiency in the conversion of hydrogen into electricity. Additionally, potassium hydroxide also plays a role in maintaining the pH balance within the fuel cell.

Why wouldn't Apollo 13 shut down the reactant valves on the fuel cells?

The Apollo 13 crew DID shut down the reactant valves when ordered to by mission control.

They were asked to shut down the Oxygen reactant valves to two of the three fuel cell in a vain effort to stop the venting of the oxygen into space.

The reason there was a slight reluctance for mission control to order the valve shutdown, is that once closed, these valves cannot be re-opened and the two fuel cellls would then become unusable.

Mission rules state that there must be at least two fully functioning fuel cells before a landing can be attempted. shutting down the two reactant valves effectively aborted the landing mission. However the true damage to the spacecraft was so severe that this was a moot point anyway, and the landing would have to have been aborted in any case.

What is the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell?

In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen react to produce water and generate electricity through an electrochemical process. This reaction involves the oxidation of hydrogen at the anode, release of electrons, movement of electrons through an external circuit, and reduction of oxygen at the cathode to form water. This process is efficient, eco-friendly, and produces no harmful emissions.

How do you test fuel cell?

Fuel cells can be tested by monitoring factors such as voltage output, temperature, pressure, and fuel flow rate. Performance tests can be conducted under various operating conditions to evaluate efficiency and stability. Additionally, performing a visual inspection of the fuel cell components can help identify any signs of wear or damage.

What does a hydrogen fuel cell consist of?

A hydrogen fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen gas is fed into the anode, where it is split into protons and electrons. The electrons flow through an external circuit, generating electricity, while the protons combine with oxygen from the air at the cathode to form water.

What are the reactants for a hydrogen fuel cell and what is the product?

The reactants for a hydrogen fuel cell are hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2), and the product is water (H2O). The reaction in the fuel cell involves the oxidation of hydrogen at the anode and reduction of oxygen at the cathode, with the flow of electrons creating an electric current.

Why are fuel cells used on the space shuttle instead of batteries?

Two reasons:

  1. Weight. Batteries are heavier per energy unit than fuel cells.
  2. Capacity. Fuel cells can store much more energy than batteries.

As a bonus, the weight for the fuel cell fuel reduces the weight of another required consumable: water. The "exhaust" of fuel cells is pure water which astronauts can drink.

What is the electrolyte in the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell?

The electrolyte in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is typically a proton exchange membrane (PEM) made of a solid polymer material that allows protons to pass through while preventing the mixing of the hydrogen and oxygen gases. This membrane plays a critical role in separating the two gases and facilitating the transfer of protons during the electrochemical reaction that produces electricity.

What materials are required for a hydrogen fuel cell?

Hydrogen fuel cells require a few key materials, including a proton exchange membrane, catalysts (often platinum), hydrogen fuel, oxygen from the air, and appropriate electrical connections. These materials work together to facilitate a chemical reaction that generates electricity.

What are the reactants in fuel cell?

The reactants in a fuel cell are typically hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is usually supplied as a fuel source to the anode, while oxygen is supplied to the cathode.

How is the performance of a fuel cell measured?

The performance of a fuel cell is typically measured using metrics such as power output, efficiency, and durability. Power output is a measure of the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell, efficiency is a measure of how effectively it converts fuel into electricity, and durability measures how long the fuel cell can operate reliably. These metrics help evaluate the overall performance and effectiveness of the fuel cell technology.

How volatile is a hydrogen fuel cell?

Hydrogen fuel cells can be considered somewhat volatile in certain situations, as they can potentially release hydrogen gas if the system is damaged or compromised. However, with appropriate safety measures in place, such as proper storage and handling procedures, the risk of volatility can be significantly reduced. Additionally, advancements in fuel cell technology continue to improve safety features and overall reliability.

What is principle and working of bio fuel cell?

A biofuel cell is a type of fuel cell that generates electricity using enzymes or microorganisms to catalyze the conversion of chemical energy in organic compounds directly into electrical energy. The principle involves the utilization of biological catalysts to drive the electrochemical reactions, typically using glucose, ethanol, or other organic materials as fuel sources. This process involves oxidation of the fuel at the anode and reduction of an oxidant at the cathode, leading to the production of electricity.

Working principle of h2-o2 fuel cell?

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells used in automobiles-also called Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells-use hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The diagram to the right shows how a PEM fuel cell works.

Most fuel cells designed for use in vehicles produce less than 1.16 volts of electricity-far from enough to power a vehicle. Therefore, multiple cells must be assembled into a fuel cell stack. The potential power generated by a fuel cell stack depends on the number and size of the individual fuel cells that comprise the stack and the surface area of the PEM.

How do you put hydrogen in a fuel cell?

Hydrogen is typically stored in a compressed or liquid form and then fed into a fuel cell. The hydrogen reacts with the electrolyte in the fuel cell to produce electricity, water, and heat. The process is efficient and does not produce harmful emissions.

What is the main difference between a fuel cell and a voltaic cell?

A fuel cell generates electricity from a chemical reaction between a fuel source and an oxidizing agent, without requiring any recharging. A voltaic cell is a device that generates electricity from a spontaneous chemical reaction between two different metals or materials, which eventually stops producing electricity as the reactants are consumed.

What metals are used in a hydrogen fuel cell?

Hydrogen fuel cells typically use platinum and palladium as catalysts to facilitate the electrochemical reactions that generate electricity. These metals play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of the fuel cell by promoting the splitting of hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons.