What are some current uses for fuel cells?

Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation, material handling and stationary, portable, and emergency backup power. Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate power using a chemical reaction rather than combustion, producing only water and heat as byproducts.

What is the future of fuel cells?

In the future, fuel cells could power our cars, with hydrogen replacing the petroleum fuel that is used in most vehicles today. Many vehicle manufacturers are actively researching and developing transportation fuel cell technologies. Stationary fuel cells are the largest, most powerful fuel cells.

What are the two most significant challenges for fuel cells?

Reducing cost and improving durability are the two most significant challenges to fuel cell commercialization. Fuel cell systems must be cost-competitive with, and perform as well or better than, traditional power technologies over the life of the system.

What are the challenges of fuel cell?

Cost and durability are the major challenges to fuel cell commercialization. However, hurdles vary according to the application in which the technology is employed. Size, weight, and thermal and water management are barriers to the commercialization of fuel cell technology.

What are the 6 different types of fuel cells?

There are six main types of fuel cells – PEM (proton exchange membrane), DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell), MCFC (molton carbonate fuel cell), PAFC (phosphoric acid fuel cell), SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and AFC (alkaline fuel cell).

What is an example of a fuel cell?

In addition to this pure hydrogen type, there are hydrocarbon fuels for fuel cells, including diesel, methanol (see: direct-methanol fuel cells and indirect methanol fuel cells) and chemical hydrides. The waste products with these types of fuel are carbon dioxide and water.

How long do fuel cells last?

The fuel cell stacks are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, about 150,000–200,000 miles. At the end of its lifespan, the fuel cell will be disassembled and the materials recycled, similar to what happens with vehicle components today.

Is fuel cell technology viable?

Unlike batteries, fuel cell technology can be scaled for passenger vehicles, as well as buses, ships, and trains. In the future, hydrogen will even fuel urban air mobility. Toyota and Honda also believe in the viability of hydrogen technology. Like battery electric, there are still challenges to overcome.

Why are fuel cells important in the current era?

Why Study Fuel Cells Fuel cells can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines and can convert the chemical energy in the fuel directly to electrical energy with efficiencies capable of exceeding 60\%. Fuel cells have lower or zero emissions compared to combustion engines.

How efficient is fuel cell?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel cells are generally between 40 and 60\% energy efficient. This is higher than some other systems for energy generation. For example, the typical internal combustion engine of a car is about 25\% energy efficient.

What are the types of fuel cell?

Types of Fuel Cells

• Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
• Direct methanol fuel cells.
• Alkaline fuel cells.
• Phosphoric acid fuel cells.
• Molten carbonate fuel cells.
• Solid oxide fuel cells.
• Reversible fuel cells.

How do fuel cells work?

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion. A typical fuel cell works by passing hydrogen through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode. At the anode site, a catalyst splits the hydrogen molecules into electrons and protons.

What are the benefits of fuel cells?

Fuel cells have several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and passenger vehicles. Fuel cells can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines, and can convert the chemical energy in the fuel to electrical energy with efficiencies of up to 60\%.

What types of articles can I submit to fuel cells?

· fuel processing. Fuel Cells welcomes submissions of the following article types: Brief Research Report, Correction, Data Report, Editorial, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Policy and Practice Reviews, Review, Specialty Grand Challenge and Technology and Code.

What does the future of fuel cell technology look like?

Recent catalyst developments are key to the future of fuel cell technology, and the large-scale commercialization of clean electric power for transportation and industry, as they: In most designs, the catalyst in the cathode and anode layers is based on platinum (Pt), a very costly precious metal.

What is the US government doing to promote fuel cell technology?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working closely with its national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to overcome critical technical barriers to fuel cell development. Cost, performance, and durability are still key challenges in the fuel cell industry.