Fuel Cells

[RWebb]

"Fuel cells have been developed that use natural gas, diesel fuel and solar panels to operate. Island911 there is no bending of physics to do it either. When operating on natural gas not only do they provide electricity but also heat for a structure. The big upside of fuel cells is the operating cost. I really not concerned about an intangible like carbon footprint when it comes with such a cost savings in terms of efficiency. Perhaps a discussion worthy of it's own thread"

from PARF - I thought this was worthy of discussion.

[Superman]

Worthy of discussion? You mean......there will be opportunities to insult each other?

[John TArsicwitz]

Pretty sure there will allot of insulting, it seems to be how these forums work.

[Aurel]

Fuel cells have been a wrong investment of research $$ that is going nowhere. And so is hydrogen.

[cgarr]

So what does a fuel cell do? I thought is converts one form of energy to another? If so isn't there some loss every time a fuel is converted? I ask because I really have no Idea, just guessing here.

[Aurel]

A fuel cell directly converts chemical energy into electricity. Sort of like a battery that you recharge by refilling with a chemical. Can be MeOH, hydrogen and oxygen, etc. Some work in gas phase, others in liquid phase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell

[john70t]

Not sure, but I was told an oxygen sensor works like a fuel cell, and may have been the inspiration for it. I remember something about a fuel reacting(burning) using a platinum catalyst and a reaction differential using outside air creating a small voltage potential.
O.k. I really don't know.

[RWebb]

Honda likes fuel cells.