Difference between revisions of "Fuel cell"
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A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel ,[[hydrogen]] or [[methane]], and an oxidizing agent, usually [[oxygen]], into [[electricity]] through a pair of reduction reactions. | A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel ,[[hydrogen]] or [[methane]], and an oxidizing agent, usually [[oxygen]], into [[electricity]] through a pair of reduction reactions. | ||
Fuel cells have an efficiency of about 40%. | Fuel cells have an efficiency of about 40%. | ||
Fuel cells could be used on Mars for vehicles or for emergency use. They could also serve as long term back up source of electricity if efficient methane based fuel cells became available. Large quantities of methane will be required for a martian settlement to provide propellant for the return to Earth of space vehicles. | Fuel cells could be used on Mars for vehicles or for emergency use. They could also serve as long term back up source of electricity if efficient methane based fuel cells became available. Large quantities of methane will be required for a martian settlement to provide propellant for the return to Earth of space vehicles. | ||
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| + | A variation of fuel cells are [[Flow battery|flow batteries]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 16:07, 30 October 2024
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel ,hydrogen or methane, and an oxidizing agent, usually oxygen, into electricity through a pair of reduction reactions. Fuel cells have an efficiency of about 40%.
Fuel cells could be used on Mars for vehicles or for emergency use. They could also serve as long term back up source of electricity if efficient methane based fuel cells became available. Large quantities of methane will be required for a martian settlement to provide propellant for the return to Earth of space vehicles.
A variation of fuel cells are flow batteries.
