Fuel cells for extraterrestrial and terrestrial applications

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2096647· OSTI ID:6432341

Srinivasan, S

The fuel cell is a nineteenth century invention and a twentieth century technology development. Due to the high power and energy density, high efficiency, reliability, and production of pure water, hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell systems have no competition as auxiliary power sources for space vehicles. The alkaline fuel cell system is a well developed and proven technology for this application. The solid polymer electrolyte system may be its future competitor. The energy crisis of 1973 stimulated research, development and demonstration of the phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, solid oxide and solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems using natural gas, petroleum or coal derived hydrogen (and carbon monoxide for the high temperature systems) for terrestrial applications. The direct methanol-air fuel cell is still an electrochemist's dream. Though considerable technological advances have been made, the present price of crude oil, and the high capital costs and limited lifetime of fuel cell systems impede their terrestrial applications in the developed countries. Conversely, the potential for lower capital costs of labor intensive manufacturing processes and the relatively higher fossil fuel prices make these systems more attractive for such applications in the developing countries. 11 refs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6432341
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-87-2393; CONF-870560-3; ON: DE87013160
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300500* -- Fuel Cells
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
ALCOHOLS
CAPITALIZED COST
CATALYSTS
COGENERATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DEUS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS UTILITIES
GASES
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MANUFACTURING
MEMBRANES
METHANOL
MODULAR STRUCTURES
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER SUPPLIES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RELIABILITY
REVIEWS
SERVICE LIFE
SOLID ELECTROLYTES
SPACE VEHICLES
STEAM GENERATION
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
USES
VEHICLES
VOLUME
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WEIGHT