What does a fuel cell convert chemical energy into?

What does a fuel cell convert chemical energy into?

electrical energy
A fuel cell is like a battery in that it generates electricity from an electrochemical reaction. Both batteries and fuel cells convert chemical potential energy into electrical energy and also, as a by-product of this process, into heat energy.

Is the chemical reaction used to produce fuel for a fuel cell?

Fuel Cell Structure and Function Fuel cellFuel cells convert the chemical energy from fuel into electricity via a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. However, using hydrogen as the major fuel source in fuel cells has several pros and cons that have kept it controversial for mainstream use.

What chemicals are in fuel cells?

A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device that has a continuous supply of fuel such as hydrogen, natural gas, or methanol and an oxidant such as oxygen, air, or hydrogen peroxide. It can have auxiliary parts to feed the device with reactants as well as a battery to supply energy for start-up.

Do fuel cells store chemical energy?

Fuel cells cannot store energy like a battery, except as hydrogen, but in some applications, such as stand-alone power plants based on discontinuous sources such as solar or wind power, they are combined with electrolyzers and storage systems to form an energy storage system.

How do fuel cells create energy?

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water. A typical fuel cell works by passing hydrogen through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode.

What are fuel cells discuss about fuel cells?

Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes—a negative electrode (or anode) and a positive electrode (or cathode)—sandwiched around an electrolyte.

What are fuel cells used for?

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.

How do fuel cells produce energy?

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water. At the cathode, the protons, electrons, and oxygen combine to produce water molecules.

What is a by product produced by fuel cells?

Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity, with pure water and potentially useful heat as the only byproducts. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are not only pollution-free, but also can have more than two times the efficiency of traditional combustion technologies.

How does a fuel cell produce electricity?

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The hydrogen reacts with oxygen across an electrochemical cell similar to that of a battery to produce electricity, water, and small amounts of heat. Many different types of fuel cells are available for a wide range of applications.

How does a fuel cell work?

How a Fuel Cell Works. Power from chemistry. Fuel cells cleanly and efficiently convert chemical energy from hydrogen-rich fuels into electrical power and high-quality heat via an electrochemical process that is efficient and emits water rather than pollutants as there is no burning of the fuel. Similar to a battery, a fuel cell is comprised

What is a combined heat and power fuel cell?

Combined Heat and Power Fuel Cells In addition to electricity, fuel cells produce heat. This heat can be used to fulfill heating needs, including hot water and space heating. Combined heat and power fuel cells are of interest for powering houses and buildings, where total efficiency as high as 90% is achievable.

What are the products of hydrogen fuel cells?

If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and heat are the only products. Fuel cells are unique in terms of the variety of their potential applications; they can provide power for systems as large as a utility power station and as small as a laptop computer.

What is a carbonate fuel cell?

The carbonate fuel cell derives its name from its electrolyte, which consists of potassium and lithium carbonates. To produce electricity, carbonate fuel cells generate hydrogen directly from a fuel source, such as natural gas or renewable biogas, via an internal reforming process.