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Phosphoric-acid fuel cell

 
Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell

 
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Phosphoric-acid fuel cell
 
 
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Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) are a type of fuel cell
Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an Electrochemistry conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel and an Oxidizing agent , which react in the presence of an electrolyte....
 that uses liquid phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric acid, is a mineral acid having the chemical formula Hydrogen3PhosphorusOxygen4....
 as an electrolyte
Electrolyte

An electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that behaves as an electrical conductor medium. Because they generally consist of ions in solution, electrolytes are also known as ionic solutions, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
. The electrode
Electrode

An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a Electronic circuit . The word was coined by the scientist Michael Faraday from the Greek language words elektron and hodos, a way....
s are made of carbon paper
Carbon paper

Carbon paper is paper coated on one side with a layer of a loosely bound dry ink or pigmented coating, usually bound with wax. It is used for making one or more copies simultaneous with the creation of an original document....
 coated with a finely-dispersed platinum
Platinum

Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is in Group 10 of the periodic table of elements....
 catalyst, which make them expensive to manufacture. They are not affected by carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colorless and odorless, tasteless, yet highly toxic gas. Its molecules consist of one carbon atom covalent bond to one oxygen atom....
 impurities in the hydrogen
Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the chemical symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly combustion and explosive Diatomic molecule gas with the molecular formula H2....
 stream.






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Fcell Diagram Pafc
Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) are a type of fuel cell
Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an Electrochemistry conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel and an Oxidizing agent , which react in the presence of an electrolyte....
 that uses liquid phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric acid, is a mineral acid having the chemical formula Hydrogen3PhosphorusOxygen4....
 as an electrolyte
Electrolyte

An electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that behaves as an electrical conductor medium. Because they generally consist of ions in solution, electrolytes are also known as ionic solutions, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
. The electrode
Electrode

An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a Electronic circuit . The word was coined by the scientist Michael Faraday from the Greek language words elektron and hodos, a way....
s are made of carbon paper
Carbon paper

Carbon paper is paper coated on one side with a layer of a loosely bound dry ink or pigmented coating, usually bound with wax. It is used for making one or more copies simultaneous with the creation of an original document....
 coated with a finely-dispersed platinum
Platinum

Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is in Group 10 of the periodic table of elements....
 catalyst, which make them expensive to manufacture. They are not affected by carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colorless and odorless, tasteless, yet highly toxic gas. Its molecules consist of one carbon atom covalent bond to one oxygen atom....
 impurities in the hydrogen
Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the chemical symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly combustion and explosive Diatomic molecule gas with the molecular formula H2....
 stream. Phosphoric acid solidifies at a temperature of 40 °C, making startup difficult and restraining PAFCs to continuous operation.

However, at an operating range of 150 to 200 °C, the expelled water can be converted to steam for air and water heating. Phosphoric acid fuel cells have been used for stationary applications with a combined heat and power efficiency of about 80%, and they continue to dominate the on-site stationary fuel cell market.

Major manufacturers of PAFC technology include UTC Power (also known as UTC Fuel Cells), a unit of United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), as well as HydroGen Corporation (NASDAQ: HYDG). As of 2005, there were close to 300 "PureCell" 200 kW units by UTC Power in service globally.

See also


  • Glossary of fuel cell terms
    Glossary of fuel cell terms

    The Glossary of fuel cell terms lists the definitions of many terms used within the fuel cell industry. The terms in this fuel cell glossary may be used by fuel cell industry associations, in education material and fuel cell codes and standards to name but a few....

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