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Fuel Cells

Fuel Cell (FC) technology

• The next explanation as to how fuel cells works comes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell.
• In the archetypal example of a hydrogen/oxygen proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a proton-conducting polymer membrane, (the electrolyte), separates the anode and cathode sides.

• On the anode side, hydrogen diffuses to the anode catalyst, where it dissociates into protons and electrons. The protons are conducted through the membrane to the cathode but the electrons are forced to travel in an external circuit (supplying power) because the membrane is electrically insulating.
• On the cathode catalyst, oxygen molecules react with the electrons (which have travelled through the external circuit) and protons, to form water. In this example, the only waste product is water vapor and/or liquid water.
• The following slides are from a428755.pdf, a presentation by A. Hendrick et al. of the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, presented at ISABE 2003 1185, in Cleveland, in 2003.

“Medis Technologies Limited announced an agreement with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to develop an 800 watt fuel cell, to electrically power Unmanned Air Vehicles. The contract provides for two phases of activity. The first six month phase involves the Israeli company developing a demonstration system, which would pass functionality tests and which can be demonstrated to be re-designable, to achieve the weight (6 kilograms) goals of the final system. The first phase is funded by IAI, who will pay the company $400,000. Upon the successful completion of the first phase, the second 18 month phase would require IAI to pay the company approx $1,500,000, to complete the development. During the first phase of the contract and dependent on minimum purchase requirements thereafter, IAI will be granted exclusivity, with respect to large fuel cells for unmanned vehicles.”

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?

Feed=BCOM&Date=20061024&ID=6131225 (link no longer exists)

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