Energy Engineering Practice Test: Fuel Cell — Flashcards

A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electricity. Fuel cells are similar to batteries, but they don't need to be recharged. They can be used to power buildings, vehicles, and electronic devices. 

Fuel cells have several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies, including:
Efficiency: Fuel cells can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines.
Emissions: Fuel cells have lower or zero emissions compared to combustion engines. 

Fuel cells are categorized into five groups based on the materials of construction and operating temperature:
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
Phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC)
Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)
Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are vehicles that run on hydrogen gas instead of gasoline. They have the potential to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.