Fuel Cells

The characteristics that make each type of fuel cell unique also make them each suited for specific applications. Fuel cells can be combined to meet the power needs of each application – from small, portable electronics to utility power plants.

A single fuel cell produces less than one volt of electricity. By combining them into series or parallel circuits, the output can be tailored to the size and scope of the application.

Series circuits produce higher voltage, and parallel circuits allow a higher current to be supplied. By increasing the surface area, a stronger current can be produced by the cells. These designs are known as fuel cell stacks. Fuel cell stacks can be designed to suit the power needs of any given application.

Garnering sufficient power from a fuel cell requires more than assembling a fuel cell stack, however. A working fuel cell system also stores hydrogen or other fuels; reforms natural gas, methanol or gasoline to extract hydrogen; pumps hydrogen into the anode and air into the cathode; purges the water produced as a by-product of the process; monitors the safety and control systems; conditions the power output to make the energy usable; cools the stack and recovers heat.