Electrical Power System Module

Explorer Post 633

Tom Miller

December 2-9, 2008

What is a Fuel Cell?

A fuel cell is like the battery in your car. What makes a fuel cell different from a car battery is that it will continue to produce power so long as a fuel is supplied.

A common supply fuel is hydrogen gas.

The second supply gas is pure oxygen or air. The 2 gases react and you get power out, water

and heat.

Benefits of Fuel Cells

• Fuel cells provide continuous power as long as hydrogen and oxygen are fed.

• Fuel cells do not pollute the environment. The

water produced from a fuel cell is clean.

• Fuel cells are quiet. There are no moving parts.

• The water and heat generated can be reused.

• Fuel cells can be part of a larger power system.

Space Shuttle Fuel Cell

• Installed in the forward fuselage under the payload bay• Size: 14 x 15 x 45 inches• Weight: 270 pounds• Power: 7 kW continuously• 96 Individual Cells, 28 V output• Over 70% efficient• Alkaline (KOH) technology

www.utcfuelcells.com

REACTION : Li C + Li CoO LiCoO + C

Rechargeable Lithium Ion CellCARBON ANODE

_

ELECTROLYTE

+

Li+O

O

O

O

Co

Li

LiLi+

d spacing Li+

Li+

3.8 V (3.65 V under load)

Layered Structure of LiCoO

2 2x 1 - x

C

D

OXIDE CATHODE

2

REACTION : Li C + Li CoO LiCoO + C

Rechargeable Lithium Ion CellCARBON ANODE

_

ELECTROLYTE

+

Li+O

O

O

O

Co

Li

LiLi+

d spacing Li+

Li+

3.8 V (3.65 V under load)

Layered Structure of LiCoO

2 2x 1 - x

C

D

OXIDE CATHODE

2

• Configuration: Prismatic, cylindrical or wound-prismatic• Pouch cells for short-life applications and polymer electrolyte cells

• Li intercalation (solid-state insertion) reactions at both electrodes• Lithium ion moves from one electrode to

the other through electrolyte• Organic liquid, polymer or inorganic solid-

state electrolyte• Lithium metal-free.