1. What is a fuel cell?

A fuel cell is basically a device that generates electricity through

an electromechanical reaction.

A fuel and an oxidizing agent are combined to generate electricity,

heat, and a byproduct. Normally, the fuel is hydrogen and the by
product is water.

Fuel cells work like batteries, but the main difference is that they
do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and
heat as long as fuel is supplied.

A fuel cell is composed by two electrodes that are sandwiched

together in between an electrolyte membrane. One is a positive
electrode or cathode and the other one is a negative electrode or
anode. The electrolyte membrane allows only positively charged
ions to pass through it.

Hydrogen enters the fuel cell via the anode. Here, hydrogen atoms
react with a catalyst and split into electrons (-) and protons (+).
Let’s remember that a catalyst is a material that speeds up
chemical reactions. The anode catalyst is normally platinum and
the cathode catalyst nickel.

Oxygen from the ambient air enters on the other side through the
cathode. The positively charged protons pass through the porous
electrolyte membrane to the cathode.

The negatively charged electrons flow out of the cell through an

external circuit and generate an electric current, which can be used,
for example, to power an electric or hybrid-electric propulsion
system.  
 Finally, after the protons have reached the cathode, they combine
with the oxygen to produce water and heat.

The electrolyte membrane plays a key role. It must only allow the
appropriate ions to pass between the anode and the cathode. If free
electrons or other substances could travel through the membrane,
they would disrupt the chemical reaction.

2. Types of fuel cells

Fuel cells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte

membrane they employ. This classification determines the kind of
electro-chemical reactions that takes place in the cell, the kind of
catalysts required, the temperature range in which the cell operates,
the fuel required, and other factors.

Each type of cell has its its own advantages, limitations, and
potential applications.

For example, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)

us hydrogen as fuel, oxygen as an oxidant and produce water as a
byproduct. They operate at relatively low temperature, resulting in
less wear on system components an increasing durability. This type
of cells is used primarily on transportation applications due to its
power to weight ratio. PEM cells use polymer as an electrolyte.

On the other hand, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) are high
temperature cells that use an electrolyte membrane composed of a
molten carbonate salt mixture. Due to its high operating
temperatures, its cell life is short. If the waste heat is captured and
used, overall efficiencies can be over 85%.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) is the most different cell of all
as it is powered by pure methanol, which is fed directly to the fuel
cell anode. As methanol is easier to transport and supply, these
 cells are often used to provide power to portable devices like cell
phones or laptop computers.

3. Advantages of fuel cells

It could be said that fuel cells are a renewable source of energy if for
example, the hydrogen used is obtained through renewable energy
sources like wind energy. Let’s remember that hydrogen is the most
abundant element on earth and it is obtained through a process called
electrolysis that requires electricity. By readily available I mean that
as long as I have a fuel supply, I will also have an energy supply.
There is no time spent waiting for it to be charged as a traditional
battery.

By more powerful and energy efficient, I mean that hydrogen has the
highest energy content of any common fuel by weight. Therefore, the overall efficiency
of this process exceeds the traditional combustion methods of an engine. For example,
a conventional combustion-based power plant generates electricity at 33-35% efficiency
compared to up to 65% for hydrogen fuel cells. 

It reduces carbon footprints and emissions as normally the only

byproduct of this reaction is water in form of vapor. When CO2 is
produced it is significantly less than any combustion method.

As fuel cells have no moving parts, no noise is created during the

electromechanical reaction.

It is ideal for remote areas. As a matter of fact, during NASAs Apollo

space programs, a fuel cell created by Pratt & whitney aircraft
division was utilized to generate power on board the command and
service module. The full cell used hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen to
create a chemical reaction that provided electricity and drinkable
water.
Finally, Hydrogen fuel cell technology has proven itself against tough
conditions, including cold environments as low as -40 degrees F/C, weather
environments like hurricanes, deserts, and winter storms,
4. Disadvantages

Hydrogen extraction requires a process that need a lot of energy.

Basically hydrogen power is nearly energy-neutral - which means that it takes almost as
much energy to produce as what it produces. Storing Hydrogen also requires special care
as it is very flammable.

Theire is still a lack of infrastructure regarding hydrogen distribution and sale. It is not a very
common element to find. Therfore fuel cells cand only bu usefull on places where it is easi
accedible.

The cost of the catalyst is very high. Extracting platinum and nickel require great amount of
work, not mentioning the environmental impact of this process.

Hydrogen cells are still on development and require a lot of investment and investigation to
be commercially available.

Durability is not yet the best. Hydrogen cells do not last as long as a combustion engines
does for example.

high efficiency values especially at partial load, low maintenance requirements, low noise level,
and clean exhaust gases.

The disadvantages at present are the costs (investment, fuel), which are still high, their low
reliability and short lifetime, and unsolved questions concerning the fuel supply and storage

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. A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode,
and air is fed to the cathode. In a polymer electrolyte membrane
fuel cell, a catalyst separates hydrogen atoms into protons and
electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. The electrons
go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity. The
protons migrate through the electrolyte to the cathode, where they
reunite with oxygen and the electrons to produce water and heat.

CO=Monoxido de Carbono

Composed of two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) separated by an electrolyte membrane

 Hydrogen enters the fuel cell via the anode. Here, hydrogen atoms react with a

catalyst and split into electrons and protons. Oxygen from the ambient air enters on the other

side through the cathode. 

 The positively charged protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane to the

cathode. The negatively charged electrons flow out of the cell and generate an electric

current, which can be used, for example, to power an electric or hybrid-electric

propulsion system.  
 In the cathode, the protons and oxygen then combine to produce water.

Anodo=electrode negative
Catodo=Electrodo positivo

Electrolyte=Membrane

The polymer electrolyte membrane allows only positively charged ions to pass through it to the
cathode. The negatively charged electrons must travel along an external circuit to the cathode.
Creating an electric current.

A catalyst is some material that speeds up chemical reactions. 

The electrolyte plays a key role. It must permit only the appropriate ions to
pass between the anode and cathode. If free electrons or other substances
could travel through the electrolyte, they would disrupt the chemical reaction

Hablar apolo 11

Hydrogen es el element mas abudandtr de la tierra, si se obtiene de fuentes renovables cpmo

wind.
El hidrogeno tiene densidad energética muy grande. Hydrogen has the highest energy
content of any common fuel by weight

For example, a conventional combustion based power plant generates electricity at 33-
35% efficiency compared to up to 65% for hydrogen fuel cells. 

Hydrogen fuel cell technology has proven itself against tough conditions,
including cold environments as low as -40 degrees F/C, weather environments
like hurricanes, deserts, and winter storms,

hydrogen power is nearly energy-neutral - which means that it takes almost as much energy
to produce as what it produces. 
During NASA’s Apollo space program a fuel cell created by United Aircraft Corporation’s Pratt &
Whitney Aircraft Division was utilized to generate power on board the Command and Service
Module (CSM). The fuel cell utilizes hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen to create a chemical reaction
that yields electricity, and drinkable water.

, resulting in a highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system