Unresolved Issues in Fuel Cell Modeling

摘要

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the stored chemical energy in fuel directly into electrical energy. The fuel is not burned in a flame, as in conventional power systems; rather, it is electrochemically oxidized. Therefore, the maximum efficiency of a fuel cell is not limited by the Carnot cycle, which limits many conventional power systems such as the steam turbine, the gas turbine, the heat pump, and the internal combustion engine. The fuel cell is very similar to a battery in that both convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Fuel cells differ from batteries in that fuel cells oxidize fuel that is supplied externally, thus enabling them the potential to run continuously as long as there is a fuel source. In contrast, a battery has a limited life per charging cycle, and cannot be used when it is recharging.