Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Applications MRes.
A notable difference between rechargeable batteries and fuel cells is that a fuel cell needs a continuous supply of fuel. Some fuel types that have been used with fuel cells include metal hydrides, methanol, formic acid, ethanol, and of course, hydrogen. For portable fuel cells, methanol and ethanol can be supplied to the fuel cell as fuel or a fuel reformer can also be attached to the fuel.
INVESTIGATIONS USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS AND ELECTROKINETIC SYSTEMS by Lewis Hsu A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING) August 2011.
Fuel cell - Fuel cell - Types of fuel cells: Various types of fuel cells have been developed. They are generally classified on the basis of the electrolyte used, because the electrolyte determines the operating temperature of a system and in part the kind of fuel that can be employed. These are devices that, by definition, have an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide as.
Fuel cell efficiency has two parts: fuel efficiency and voltage efficiency. Fuel efficiency is defined with the stoichiometric ratio. Because hydrogen is diluted at the fuel cell entrance, it has to be supplied in excess of the stoichiometric amount so that hydrogen concentration at the exit is higher than zero. Typically, the reformate fuel cells operate with hydrogen stoichiometric ratios.
Fuel cells that use pure hydrogen fuel are completely carbon-free, with their only byproducts being electricity, heat, and water. Some types of fuel cell systems are capable of using hydrocarbon fuels like natural gas, biogas, methanol, and others. Because fuel cells generate electricity through chemistry rather than combustion, they can achieve much higher efficiencies than traditional energy.
The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the performance of fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems in buildings and their integration with renewable energy systems in order to analyse their environmental and economic impact. Even though, fuel cell technology is still in its research stage, improvements can be made in order for this technology to be cost-competitive for some.
A fuel cell makes electricity using the energy released by mixing fuel with air, a reaction which creates water and sometimes also carbon dioxide.The most common fuel for fuel cells is hydrogen, which when reacted with oxygen from air produces only water. Fuel cells work like a battery being constantly fed with fuel so it never runs out (as long as you have enough fuel).