Electrical Power System Module Explorer Post 633 Tom Miller December 2-9, 2008
What is a Fuel Cell? §A fuel cell is like the battery in your car. What makes a fuel cell different from a car battery is that it will continue to produce power so long as a fuel is supplied. §A common supply fuel is hydrogen gas. The second supply gas is pure oxygen or air. §The 2 gases react and you get power out, water and heat.
Benefits of Fuel Cells Fuel cells provide continuous power as long as hydrogen and oxygen are fed. Fuel cells do not pollute the environment. The water produced from a fuel cell is clean. Fuel cells are quiet. There are no moving parts. The water and heat generated can be reused. Fuel cells can be part of a larger power system.
Space Shuttle Fuel Cell Installed in the forward fuselage under the payload bay Size: 14 x 15 x 45 inches Weight: 270 pounds Power: 7 kW continuously 96 Individual Cells, 28 V output Over 70% efficient Alkaline (KOH) technology
Configuration: Prismatic, cylindrical or wound-prismatic Pouch cells for short-life applications and polymer electrolyte cells Li intercalation (solid-state insertion) reactions at both electrodes Lithium ion moves from one electrode to the other through electrolyte Organic liquid, polymer or inorganic solid- state electrolyte Lithium metal-free.