Fuel cell working and efficiency

A fuel cell may create energy from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. This type of cell was utilized in the Apollo space programme for two purposes: as a source of fuel and as a supply of drinking water (the water vapor produced from the cell, when condensed, was fit for human consumption).

The hydrogen and oxygen were passed into a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution via carbon electrodes in order for the fuel cell to operate.

Cathode Reaction: O₂ + 2H₂O + 4e– → 4OH–

Anode Reaction: 2H₂ + 4OH– → 4H₂O + 4e–

Net Cell Reaction: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

A fuel cell may create energy from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. This type of cell was utilized in the Apollo space programme for two purposes: as a source of fuel and as a supply of drinking water (the water vapor produced from the cell, when condensed, was fit for human consumption).

This electrochemical process, however, has a slow response rate. A catalyst, such as platinum or palladium, is used to solve this problem. Before being inserted into the electrodes, the catalyst is finely split to maximize the effective surface area. The above-mentioned fuel cell has a 70 percent efficiency in the generation of energy, whereas thermal power plants have a 40 percent efficiency. Because the creation of electric current in a thermal power plant requires the conversion of water into steam and the use of that steam to move a turbine, there is a significant variation in efficiency. Fuel cells, on the other hand, provide a platform for converting chemical energy into electrical energy directly.