| The
reverse of electrolysis
The Fuel Cell operates on the principle of
electrolysis, but in reverse. It generates
water from hydrogen and from oxygen in the
air while producing electricity and heat. Conversely,
electrolysis dissociates oxygen and hydrogen
from water while consuming electricity. This
non-polluting reaction (the cell only produces
water) is carried out in each of the basic
cells which, when assembled together, constitute
an energy module of the required power known
as the stack.
This is currently the only Zero Emissions
technology, since it doesn’t generate
any CO2.
The appeal of Fuel Cells can be justified by
their many advantages:
• High energy
efficiency: the net electrical efficiency
of a cell varies between 30 and 70%, by comparison,
that of a combustion engine is on average
20%.
• Low sound levels: only some
components such as the compressor and the
ventilation system generate a slight noise.
Sound emissions are very low about 40 to
50 dB at 1m, which therefore means for example
that they can be used at night.
• Modularity: the cell consists
of unit cells placed in series and in parallel
to obtain the required voltage to current
pairing.
Axane
Fuel Cell Technology…
Axane
is developing its range of PEM
(Proton Exchange Membrane) type Fuel Cells around
a single modular technology platform
in accordance with the needs of its customers.
This
platform is intended to be multi-purpose
and translates into/results in/this means
a range of diversified products. Three are
already available: a portable
power source, a
stationary
power source and
plug-in
power source.
All the products operate
on standard gaseous Hydrogen available from
Air Liquide supply centers
or deliverable on-site..
More
information…
If you do not have
the PDF file reader, Acrobat Reader 4, download
this,
by "clicking
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Sir
William GROVE demonstrated the principle
of the fuel cell in 1839. |
 |
He performed the reaction of water
eloctrolysis in reverse,
using porous platinum electrodes
and sulfuric acid as the electrolyte.
Since this discovery was made,
only the most random interest has
been shown in this technology,
It has therefore taken over
100 years for the Fuel Cell to
move from the invention stage to
the innovation stage. |
|
 |
A
cell consists of two electrodes
separated by an electrolyte,
a material that blocks the electrons
and allows the ions to circulate.
Hydrogen is used as fuel. Oxygen
from the air acts as the oxidizing
agent.
At the anode, the hydrogen is oxidized
as :
2H2
 4H+
+ 4e-
At the cathode,
the oxygen is reduced :
O2
+ 4H+ + 4e-
2H2O
The
result is therefore :
2H2
+ O2 2H2O
The
reaction is triggered at the electrodes
by using a catalyst consisting of
platinum nano-particles deposited
on carbon grains.
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