FAQsAbout Fuel Cells |
||
|
What is a fuel cell?
A fuel cell combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from air to produce electrical energy efficiently, quietly and without combustion. The only by-products are water and heat. To see how a Ballard fuel cell works, please click here. What is the difference between a fuel cell and a battery? Batteries are considered a power “storage” device as they store their fuel – the chemicals that react to produce electricity – internally. Thus, when a battery’s fuel is spent, the battery must be disposed of or recharged. In contrast, fuel cells are a power “generating” device as they draw fuel from an external source – such as a hydrogen cylinder - and generate electricity for as long as fuel is supplied. How is a fuel cell engine different from an internal combustion engine? Fuel cell engines produce electricity without combustion - as opposed to internal combustion engines, which "burn" their fuel - and with little, if any, noise, vibration, air pollution or greenhouse gas production. Fuel cell engines are also two to three times as efficient as combustion engines, so they use fuel more efficiently. What is the difference between Ballard's Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology and others such as solid oxide and phosphoric acid? PEM fuel cells use a solid polymer membrane (a thin plastic film) as an electrolyte as opposed to a liquid or high-temperature ceramic. PEM fuel cells are compact and produce a powerful electric current relative to their size. They operate at a lower temperature (less than 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit) which allows for faster start-up and rapid response to changes in the demand for power (load following). PEM fuel cells are ideally suited to transportation and smaller stationary applications (under one megawatt) and have been demonstrated by Ballard in systems ranging in size from 100 watts to 250 kilowatts. What are the advantages of using fuel cells over other sources of power? Fuel cells are clean, highly efficient, scalable power generators that may be fueled by a variety of fuel feed stocks and can therefore be used in an assortment of power generation applications. In particular, they offer several advantages over other technologies:
Are fuel cells recyclable? Yes, most fuel cell components are recyclable or reusable. What is the lifetime of a fuel cell product? What happens when it doesn't work anymore? Can I get a replacement? Fuel cells are designed to different lifetimes, depending on the application in which they are intended to be used. Each fuel cell manufacturer has different warranty and service policies when it comes to replacing fuel cells that have completed their lifetime. We have set lifetime targets for Ballard® fuel cells that vary depending on their application. These lifetimes are based on the requirements of today’s marketplace. For example, a backup combustion generator on the market today is expected to last for between 500 and 1,500 hours. For passenger vehicles, fuel cell engine lifetime is expected to be about 5,000 hours; for buses about 20,000 hours. What are the primary market forces for fuel cells? Today, the primary market drivers for fuel cells are energy supply, energy independence and security, global climate change and air quality. What will make fuel cells commercially viable? First, fuel cells must meet durability and performance requirements in comparison to incumbent technologies such as batteries and internal combustion engines. Second, the cost of building fuel cells must be reduced so that it is competitive with those incumbent technologies. Third, depending on the choice of fuel, infrastructure investments must be made to support wide-scale introduction of fuel cells. Finally, public acceptance must be secured to create demand for this exciting technology. Where can I go for more information on fuel cells? The Ballard Web site provides a lot of general information on fuel cells. We recommend you start here. However, there are several very good sources of general information on the Internet. We recommend the following Web sites: Union of Concerned Scientists American Methanol Institute Fuel Cells 2000 California Air Resources Board National Hydrogen Association Los Alamos National Laboratory California Fuel Cell Partnership The US Fuel Cell Council California Hydrogen Business Council Government of Canada Electric Drive Transportation Association |
||
