Fuel Cells: Concepts and Applications

Fuel cells are galvanic cells that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy. They consist of electrodes and an electrolyte, with fuel and oxidant supplied continuously. Sir William Grove developed the first fuel cell in 1839. Fuel cells achieve 100% efficiency by converting chemical energy directly into electrical energy, bypassing mechanical energy conversion. They can use liquid or gaseous fuels and various oxidants. Fuel cells are classified by operating temperature and include biochemical and hydrocarbon types. Advantages include high efficiency, silent operation, and no harmful waste, making them suitable for spacecraft.

Who developed the first fuel cell and in which year?

• Thomas Edison in 1879

• Sir William Grove in 1839

• Nikola Tesla in 1893

• Michael Faraday in 1820

What is the main advantage of fuel cells over traditional energy conversion methods?

• They require mechanical energy conversion.

• They have a 100% efficiency in converting chemical energy to electrical energy.

• They are less efficient than traditional methods.

• They convert chemical energy to heat first.

Which of the following is NOT a type of fuel used in fuel cells?

• Ethanol

• Hydrogen

• Methanol

• Petrol

How are fuel cells classified based on temperature?

• None of the above

• Solid, liquid, and gas temperature

• Cold, warm, and hot temperature

• Low, medium, and high temperature

What is a key characteristic of biochemical cells?

• They use only gaseous fuels.

• They operate at high temperatures.

• They are less efficient than other fuel cells.

• They use microorganisms to disintegrate organic compounds.

In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, what is used as the electrolyte?

• Concentrated NaOH solution

• Distilled water

• Phosphoric acid

• Sulfuric acid

What is a common oxidant used in hydrocarbon-oxygen fuel cells?

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

• Pure oxygen

• Nitrogen

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of fuel cells?

• High efficiency of energy conversion

• Presence of moving parts

• Silent operation

• Absence of harmful waste products

What is one of the applications of fuel cells mentioned in the transcript?

• Charging mobile phones

• Heating homes

• Running automobiles

• Powering spacecraft

Which material is commonly used for electrodes in fuel cells?

• Copper

• Iron

• Aluminum

• Platinum