Ballard Fuel Cell :: essays research papers

THE BALLARD evoke CELLThe Ballard sack cell is a power generating device which combines heat content (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas, petroleum) and group O without the use of burning in order to generate electricity. Since fuel cells operate very quietly and efficiently and their only emissions are pure water and heat they are judge to be the future of power generating machines.The PEM fuel cell is made of dickens plates with a plastic membrane coated with a catalyst in the middle. Hydrogen is then fed through the channels on iodine side of the plates and oxygen is fed through the other side. The enthalpy and oxygen atoms are drawn toward each other. Only one part of the enthalpy atom the proton can pass through the membrane. The electron has to take the presbyopic way around through an external circuit. This creates electricity. The oxygen side attracts protons and electrons that fall in traveled through the external circuit. This is where the byprod ucts water and heat are formed. for each one fuel cell operates continuously as long as hydrogen is supplied. Single cells are combined to produce the required amount of power.PEM fuel cells operate at around 90 degrees Celsius and give off 90 degrees Celsius of heat, which is a fairly low temperature. This is much better than high temperature combustion engines, which operate at about 2500 degrees Celsius and give off 125 degrees Celsius of heat. This actor the Ballard fuel cell can react quickly to load changes and makes it sublime for motor vehicles. Which is why Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen Yamaha, Daimler Chrysler and Ford have commercialized the use of these cells.The cities of Vancouver and clams are currently testing Ballards fuel cell overfly buses. They are seeing the maintenance requirements of the pollution free buses as good as the public reaction to the program.