Fuel Cells
Fuel cell features
Fuel cell features
Fuel cells provide high-efficiency power generation!
Fuel cell features
Almost all of the energy consumed globally is being supplied by fossil fuels, which are finite resources. The carbon dioxide (CO2) that is generated when these fuels are burned at existing power generation facilities has a great impact on global warming.
For this reason, eco-friendly fuel cells that provide highly efficient power generation are currently getting attention.ß
＜High efficiency＞
Conventional power generation methods involve using a fossil fuel that is combusted to boil water with the generated heat, and then a turbine is turned by the power (the steam) of the hot water to generate electricity. In such power generation methods, as chemical energy is converted into thermal energy and the generated kinetic energy is converted into electric energy, losses occur at each process, which reduces the available energy. On the other hand, a fuel cell directly extracts electricity by causing a chemical reaction of the fuel, which means that loss is small and the available energy increases. Also, conventional power generation systems also incur transmission losses when the power is being sent from the power plant, so the final available electric energy can be as low as 35%. But since fuel cells can be installed where the electricity is used, the transmission loss in small. Another benefit of fuel cells is that the waste heat can be used, and this means that as much as 80% of the energy can be finally used.
＜Environmentally friendly＞
As mentioned above, fuel cells have high efficiency, so carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced.
