How a single fuel cell works - Backlinks USA

  Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

 Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles have been around for a while,but introduction to car shoppers has been held back by a chicken and egg dilemma:A successful retails launch of fuel-cell electric cars and SUVs requires a retail fueling system.though the cars and stations are limited at present it is expected that stations will ultimately spread throughout urban areas.

How a single fuel cell works

 Hydrogen tank stores fuel which is fed to fuel cell, when needed it is pumped into the cell through a flow plate allowing hydrogen molecules to split at the anode (points where electrons flow out of the device) a platinum catalyst(a metal that cause a chemical reaction) splits hydrogen molecules into positive hydrogen ions and negatively charged electrons.The PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) which only allows the positively charged hydrogen ions to pass by forcing the negative electrons along an external circuit,this is something like diverting water from a river to power a water wheel.Electricity separate's electrons diverted along an external circuit creating an electrical circuit.Outside oxygen is pumped into the cell through a flow plate.molecules combine another catalyst at the cathode (point where electrons enter a device)causes the negatively charged electrons and positively charged hydrogen ions to combine with oxygen to from water.This make's water which exits the cell.The control unit draws electricity from the fuel cell when driver presses accelerator and sends it to the motor,which powers the vehicles.the battery stores excess electricity,which is then used during ignition and acceleration.

 An example of a fuel cell electric vehicle is the toyota mirai.

Where do we get hydrogen from?

 Hydrogen is most common element on the planet,so there are no worries about shortages.It rarely exists as free hydrogen,however.it usually is bound to something else,like hydrogen in water or natural gas.Some hydrogen is made on-site at a few fueling stations that use electrolysis to split the hydrogen molecules from water.the electricity for that process can come either from on-site solar panels or from the local electrical grid.Hydrogen fuel is however also made in large processing plants,which are the same ones that serve the oil industry.The hydrogen is then trucked to stations and stored in large above-ground tanks.