Caitlin's+Project+Chapter+9

__Hydrogen Fuel Cells__ By: Caitlin
 * **How Fuel Cells Work**
 * **electrochemical energy conversion device** is their technical name
 * they convert the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water
 * in the process they produce electricity
 * with fuel cells, chemicals are constantly being supplied, so they never run out and go deadthey take the chemical energy stored in the fuel (hydrogen, methan, etc) and through a process of two electrochemical reactions, it converts the chemical energy directly into electricity
 * as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, electricity flows out
 * to make higher voltages, scientists can stack several fuel cells on top of eachother
 * this is called a "fuel cell stack"
 * the fuel cells are then combined using metal or carbon plates so they can power larger items (car,etc.)

media type="custom" key="12080099" width="117" height="117"

media type="youtube" key="6UwSazq8GTU" height="315" width="420"


 * **What's in a fuel cell?**
 * hydrogen fuel cells use hydrogen as the fuel as well as an oxidant to generate electricity through an electrochemical process
 * all fuel cells have an electrolyte and two electrodes
 * for a hydrogen fuel cell:
 * hydrogen is fuel
 * oxygen is the oxidant


 * **What are hydrogen fuel cells used for?**
 * transportation
 * vehicles
 * portable uses
 * stationary instillations
 * heat/cool apartments or houses

>>>
 * **Different Types of Fuel Cells**
 * all fuel cells produce electricity using the same process
 * there are 2 main differences
 * **electrolyte**
 * different electrolytes provide different voltages and different properties
 * fuel cells are commonly named after the type of electrolyte used
 * examples are polymer membrane, phospheric acid, alkaline potassium hydroxide, molten alkaline carbonate, an hard ceramic metal
 * **operating temperature**
 * the temperature that the fuel cell must be in order to produce electricity
 * fuel cells used for transportation often have a low operating temperature
 * Websites**
 * []
 * []
 * []