Anonymous answered 3 years ago
The fuel cell is important for terrestrial applications of hydrogen technology because it combines relatively high efficiency with a very low environmental emission. In addition, it operates at a constant temperature, and the heat from the electrochemical reaction is available for co-generation applications. Fuel cell power plants can be configured to use a wide variety of fuels and produce a wide range of electrical outputs. Also, these plants by operating on hydrogen and oxygen offer high energy density. Therefore, large energy outputs can be produced from a system with a relatively small weight and volume. Thus, a fuel cell is a preferred power generator in remote applications where system weight and volume are important parameters.
Other advantages of fuel cells and fuel cell plants are:
- Direct conversion of chemical to electrical energy.
- Excellent characteristics, even with partial loading.
- High availability of lower temperature units.
- Fuel flexibility.
- Zero or very low noise except for occasional vibrations.
Disadvantages:
- Relatively high costs compared to conventional power sources.
- Lifetime limitations (no confirmed knowledge about a real lifetime).
- Decreasing electrical efficiency as a function of the operating lifetime.
- Special treatment of fuel (H2) is necessary.
- Noble materials are needed for membranes and electrodes, e.g., platinum is one of the most effective catalysts.