A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, and useable heat and water. Fuel cells produce Direct Current (DC) electricity without the conventional combustion reaction.
The FuelCell Process
A fuel cell is made up of an electrolyte member sandwiched between fuel and oxidant electrodes. Typically, a fossil fuel or biogas from which hydrogen is extracted is used for most common applications. The oxidant is typically plain air. The fuel is oxidized at the “anode electrode”, releasing electrons that move to the “cathode electrode” via the external circuit. These electrons meet the hydrogen and push charged ions across the electrolyte. The charged ions (positively or negatively charged) move across the ion conducting electrolyte member, completing the electrical circuit. This electrochemical process requires very few moving parts, typically limited to air blowers and fuel/water pumps. Because of high fuel conversion efficiency, the flexibility to generate Combined Heat and Power (CHP), low-impact characteristics, and negligible environmental emissions, fuel cells are a desirable source of power generation for a broad range of markets and applications. Fuel cells are fast replacing reciprocating engines and gas turbines as the most environmentally-friendly sources of on-site power.
Carbonate fuel cell power plants can utilize many fuel sources, including
FuelCell Energy has operated Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) stacks of varying sizes on all of these fuels. This fuel flexibility presents specific customers with attractive, value-added self-generation options. For instance, the methane produced in the anaerobic digester process can fuel the DFC plant and generate electricity, thus making the fuel cell a renewable energy source.
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