Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells - How It Works

Fuel Cells
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells have high-power density, rapid startup, and low-temperature operation (around 80 to 120 C), and so are ideal for use in applications such as energy transport and battery replacement. The electrolyte used is a proton conducting polymer. This is typically a perfluorinated polymer, though other hydrocarbon-based membranes are under development in an attempt to reduce cost or to enable operation at temperatures approaching 200 C. The catalytically active layer sits adjacent to the membrane, supported on a PTFE treated carbon paper, which acts as current collector and gas diffusion layer. For operation on pure hydrogen, platinum is the most active catalyst, but alloys of platinum and ruthenium are used when higher levels of carbon monoxide are present (CO is a poison in all low temperature fuel cells). (more…)

Natural Cooling and Passive Heating System for Energy Efficiency

Several passive heating systems, if provided with proper ventilation, can ensure to provide cooling. Passive heating and cooling for houses can be done in several ways, one of which is called geothermal energy. Passing the water through pipelines via ground can achieve and distribute the heating and cooling all over the house. (more…)

Evaporation and Boiling

evaporation boiling
If water is put on the floor on a cleaning operation, it tends to dry rapidly after a short time. In this position, we say that the water evaporates. Basically what happened is this means that changes in water levels from liquid to gas or steam. Evaporation occurs when molecules escape the surface of a liquid when they have enough kinetic energy to go off from the body of liquid. (more…)