Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Residential Fuel Cells: Energy of Tomorrow!

A fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen or hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen to create electricity by an electrochemical process. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes with an electrolyte in between them. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat. Hydrogen fuel goes into the anode of the fuel cell. Oxygen enters the fuel cell through the cathode. Encouraged by a catalyst, the hydrogen atom splits into a proton and an electron, which take different paths to the cathode. The proton passes through the electrolyte and since electricity is the motion of electrons, the electrons create a separate current of electricity that can be used before they return to the cathode, to be reunited with the hydrogen and oxygen in a molecule of water. A fuel cell system, which includes a fuel reformer, can use the hydrogen from any hydrocarbon fuel, from natural gas to methanol, and even gasoline.

More fuel cell info!

Frequently Asked Questions
Terminology