Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. 1 An electrochemical device in which the intrinsic chemical free energy of fuel and oxidant is catalytically converted to direct current energy. 2 A fuel storage tank
WordNet
n. cell that produces electricity by oxidation of fuel (hydrogen and oxygen or zinc and air); for use in electric cars
Wikipedia
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction of positively charged hydrogen ions with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a continuous source of fuel and oxygen or air to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemicals present in the battery react with each other to generate an electromotive force (emf). Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as these inputs are supplied.
The first fuel cells were invented in 1838. The first commercial use of fuel cells came more than a century later in NASA space programs to generate power for satellites and space capsules. Since then, fuel cells have been used in many other applications. Fuel cells are used for primary and backup power for commercial, industrial and residential buildings and in remote or inaccessible areas. They are also used to power fuel cell vehicles, including forklifts, automobiles, buses, boats, motorcycles and submarines.
There are many types of fuel cells, but they all consist of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte that allows positively charged hydrogen ions (or protons) to move between the two sides of the fuel cell. The anode and cathode contain catalysts that cause the fuel to undergo oxidation reactions that generate positively charged hydrogen ions and electrons. The hydrogen ions are drawn through the electrolyte after the reaction. At the same time, electrons are drawn from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, producing direct current electricity. At the cathode, hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxygen react to form water. As the main difference among fuel cell types is the electrolyte, fuel cells are classified by the type of electrolyte they use and by the difference in startup time ranging from 1 second for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM fuel cells, or PEMFC) to 10 minutes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Individual fuel cells produce relatively small electrical potentials, about 0.7 volts, so cells are "stacked", or placed in series, to create sufficient voltage to meet an application's requirements. In addition to electricity, fuel cells produce water, heat and, depending on the fuel source, very small amounts of nitrogen dioxide and other emissions. The energy efficiency of a fuel cell is generally between 40–60%, or up to 85% efficient in cogeneration if waste heat is captured for use.
The fuel cell market is growing, and in 2013 Pike Research estimated that the stationary fuel cell market will reach 50 GW by 2020.
Fuel cell may refer to:
- Fuel cell, an electrochemical device
- Racing fuel cell, a gasoline tank with baffles that prevent sloshing typically found in a race vehicle, but also on some street vehicles.
- Stanley Meyer's water fuel cell, a fraudulent device for powering a car from water
- An aircraft fuel tank (see Fuel tank#Aircraft)
Usage examples of "fuel cell".
The fuel cell oxidizes fuel to obtain current, but the process generates far less waste heat than a turbine does.
The fuel cell also permits fast refueling-with a hydride, or perhaps hydrogen-which gives the fuel cell a strong advantage over conventional batteries.
Yes, we built an empire, one so powerful that soon we will control the economy of most of the Western world through our development of fuel cell technology.
Before the hydrogen fuel cell and the vortex cell windmill the root of power in the world was oil—.
Then when it was decided that the fuel cell had to disappear, he dropped out of sight and took Simmons with him.
I watched Simmons every minute while he was creating the fuel cell.
Some of these sliced into a fuel cell--fortunately almost empty--which trailed some burning fuel, panicking those who could look out their windows and see.
Deeper and longer buried than the others, badly hurt in addition, he would have died shortly after his fuel cell was exhausted.