The Fuel Cell

The fuel cell is actually quite an old technology having been invented by the British scientist William Grove in 1843. In this apparatus, electrical power is produced in a simple yet intriguing way. There are two electrodes, the anode and the cathode, and in the middle of both there is a membrane ion conductor or electrolyte. Hydrogen gas is fed continuously over the anode while oxygen from the air passes over the cathode. The electrolyte is a partition which ensures that the two gases do not come into direct contact with each other. Through the chemical process in the fuel cell, hydrogen splits into hydrogen ions and electrons. The electrons then pass through an external circuit to the cathode depicted by this glowing bulb. Electrical current is produced in this way.

The hydrogen ions meanwhile pass through the membrane. They and the electrons then react with oxygen at the cathode to produce water or steam. Thus heat is also produced, and this too can be utilized.

The electricity produced is direct current, which can be converted into alternating current if required. In order to create large volumes of power, fuel cells are connected in series to form a stack.

The beauty of the fuel cell is that the only waste product is water, although it should be stressed that the waste depends on how hydrogen is obtained to begin with. If it is derived from sources such as natural gas, CO, will also be produced.

Fuel cells can primarily be used in remote areas where there is no connection to the grid. But developments in this technology could mean that heat and electrical power from fuel cells will also be harnessed in the future in cities, in decentralized energy-supply systems for homes, offices and factories. We could even have them in our cellars.

So is this the key to a vision of clean, cheap, plentiful energy supply? Does it spell the end for the power plant as we know it? This is unlikely as the volumes of power needed cannot be generated by the fuel cell alone. But there will be changes, and in twenty to thirty years' time fuel cells could be common in energy supply as well as in vehicles.

6. How would you answer these questions in a discussion forum? Use information from the text and flow chart above, and phrases.

· I still don't really understand how it works. Can you explain in simple language?

· So what exactly are the advantages, and are there any disadvantages?

· Is this the answer to all our needs? Can you produce large volumes of energy like this?

Summarize the fuel cell's advantages and disadvantages in a table.

Advantages	Disadvantages
waste mostly water or … steam	depending on...

Дата добавления: 2015-08-03