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- Newsgroups: sci.energy
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!linac!sunova!usenet
- From: butteris@dingus.ssc.gov
- Subject: Sources for Fuel Cells (or design) & notes
- Message-ID: <1993Jan26.001232.18802@sunova.ssc.gov>
- Keywords: Fuel Cell, battery
- Sender: usenet@sunova.ssc.gov (News Admin)
- Nntp-Posting-Host: dingus.ssc.gov
- Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory
- Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 00:12:32 GMT
- Lines: 29
-
- Hello,
-
- I was wondering if anyone knows of vendors of fuel cells (doubtful I know)
- or the plans for general (reversible) hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. Any
- information would be appreciated. I have seen the plans (old) for the
- 20kWatt fuel cell used (or proposed?) for the shuttle program but would
- like some current technology. The fuel cells require a closely spaced
- cathode/anode seperated by a gas permeable membrane. And I seem to
- remember that the actual area was about the size of a half-dollar. This
- fuel cell was supposed to be very expensive (>$50k).
-
- It seems that a technology like a fuel cell operating as a non-carnot
- limited energy source would go a long way for the powering of electric
- vehicles and for "off-line" storage of energy at moderate densities (I do
- not know the actual numbers though :+( ). I also remember that the fuel
- cell was only able to supply energy at a constant rate requiring something
- intermediate, such as high energy capacitors (I am following the thread)
- or rechargeable batteries.
-
- What about the electrolysis of the hydrogen/oxygen in the first place? Who
- knows the best techniques of gathering the actual gases? Can a fuel cell
- operate in reverse? Does this qualify as a "zero emission" device? :+)
-
- Is there a site that sources designs for energy storage/conversion
- devices?
-
- Jamey B @ SSC
-
-
-