Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells


Fuel cells are a special type of galvanic cells. They can be fueled by solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel. The electrochemical oxidation of the fuel is coupled to energy gain, which is captured in form of electricity – as opposed to heat during chemical oxidation. Hence, fuel cells are direct energy converters with high efficiency. Most fuel cells achieve an energy conversion efficiency of 70-90%. If the conversion is 100%, no waste heat is produced. This ideal case of energy conversion is called ‘cold combustion’ which has been demonstrated for the first time in 1955 by Justi & Winsel. The fuel for this process is hydrogen gas, H2. It enters a porous nickel tube (gas diffusion electrode) where it is dissociated into protons and electrons according to:

H2 → 2 H+ + 2 e

Hydrogen fuel (H2) and oxygen (O2) are pumped into a fuel cell where two electrodes and the electrolyte fuse them to water. During desorption each H atom releases a proton (H+) and an electron (e). The electron is discharged onto the electrode, called anode, and the proton into the electrolyte. As a result of the dissociation process, the anode become negatively charged. On the second electrode, called cathode, oxygen gas, O2, is then charged with the electron and converted into O2− ions. The cathode becomes positively charged. Both electrodes are submerged in electrolytes which is in most cases a potassium hydroxide, KOH, solution of water. In the electrolyte, cations (H+) and anions (O2−) form water by chemical fusion. Theoretically, the efficiency is 92% accompanied by little waste heat – as opposed to normal combustion where heat of ~3,000ºC is produced.

2 H2 + O2 → H2O

Unlike heat power generators, fuel cells achieve high direct energy conversion efficiency because they avoid the additional step of heat generation. Besides shortcutting heat generation, fuel cells operate without mechanical parts and emit no noise, flue gas, or radioactivity, which puts them in focus of future developments. Due to their high energy efficiency and the high energy density of hydrogen, fuel cells are ideal for electric vehicles. In space flight, fuel cells were first used during Apollo Program between 1968 and 1972, in the Skylab Project 1973, the Apollo-Soyus Program, the Space Shuttle Program, and on board the International Space Station. There, they provide the electrical power for tools and water treatment. One benefit is that the final product of cold combustion in fuel cells is that water is the final product which is used by astronauts on their missions. There are various types of fuel cells but all have in common that they consist of electrodes for fuel and O2 activation, and electrolytic conductors between these electrodes. Recent variations of fuel cells include methane fuel cells and microbial fuel cells. Due to the high activation energy of methane, methane fuel cells usually operate at high temperature using solid electrolytes. Microbial fuel cells, use microbes as anodic catalyst and organic matter in water as fuel. This makes them ideal for wastewater treatment.


Refine Search

Alcohol Fuel Cell Kit, Horizon

Alcohol Fuel Cell Kit, Horizon

The Horizon alcohol-fuel cell kit uses ethanol so fuel. Chemical oxidation converts it into electric..

534.31€ Ex Tax: 449.00€

Carbon Cloth, ELAT - Hydrophilic Plain Cloth

Carbon Cloth, ELAT - Hydrophilic Plain Cloth

ELAT Hydrophilic Plain Carbon Cloth gas diffusion layers are excellent for flow batteries. The exc..

197.54€ Ex Tax: 166.00€

Carbon Cloth, Gas Diffusion Layer, ELAT LT1400

Carbon Cloth, Gas Diffusion Layer, ELAT LT1400

FuelCellsEtc's ELAT® LT1400 is a carbon cloth Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) with a carbon microporous la..

214.20€ Ex Tax: 180.00€

Carbon Paper, Freudenberg H14C7

Carbon Paper, Freudenberg H14C7

Freudenberg H14C7 is a flexible and easy to use carbon paper Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) with a Microp..

428.40€ Ex Tax: 360.00€

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb GDS2230 P75

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb GDS2230 P75

AvCarb Material Solution’s Gas Diffusion System GDS2230 P75 combines AvCarb's proprietary carbon fib..

154.70€ Ex Tax: 130.00€

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb MGL190

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb MGL190

AvCarb® MGL190 is a superior carbon paper for fuel cell and electrolyzer applications. MGL190 demons..

208.25€ Ex Tax: 175.00€

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb MGL370

Gas Diffusion System AvCarb MGL370

AvCarb® MGL370 is a superior carbon paper for fuel cell and electrolyzer applications. MGL370 demons..

214.20€ Ex Tax: 180.00€

Platinized Titanium Screen

Platinized Titanium Screen

Platinized titanium (PtTi) screens are primarily used in electrolyzer stacks as part of the flow fie..

416.50€ Ex Tax: 350.00€

Butyl rubber mat, 6 mm

Butyl rubber mat, 6 mm

Smooth butyl rubber mat:Material: butyl rubberSurface: smoothColor: BlackThickness: 6 mmDimension: 1..

5.94€ Ex Tax: 4.99€

Butyl rubber septum, GL 45, 6 mm thickness, black

Butyl rubber septum, GL 45, 6 mm thickness, black

Butyl rubber septumMaterial: butyl rubberSurface: smoothColor: BlackThickness: 6 mmDiameter: 42 mm d..

2.96€ Ex Tax: 2.49€

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.03 mg/cm² 20% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.03 mg/cm² 20% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon cloth electrode, platinum on Vulcan (0.03 mg/cm² 20%). A low cost electrode using a woven ..

154.70€ Ex Tax: 130.00€

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.3 mg/cm² 40% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.3 mg/cm² 40% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon cloth electrode, platinum on Vulcan (0.5 mg/cm² 40%). A low cost electrode using a woven c..

207.06€ Ex Tax: 174.00€

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.5 mg/cm² 60% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 0.5 mg/cm² 60% Platinum on Vulcan

Carbon cloth electrode, platinum on Vulcan (0.5 mg/cm² 60%) . A low cost electrode using a woven ..

261.80€ Ex Tax: 220.00€

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 2 mg/cm² Platinum Black

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 2 mg/cm² Platinum Black

Carbon cloth electrode, platinum black (2 mg/cm²) . This gas diffusion electrode with higher cata..

249.90€ Ex Tax: 210.00€

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 4 mg/cm² Platinum Black

Carbon Cloth Electrode − 4 mg/cm² Platinum Black

Carbon cloth electrode, platinum black (4 mg/cm²). This high performance carbon cloth electrode i..

285.60€ Ex Tax: 240.00€

Showing 1 to 15 of 31 (3 Pages)