Electricity production by stations operating on coal, natural gas, gasoline, or other energy carriers is carried out according to the scheme: chemical energy of fuel - thermal energy - energy of motion - electricity. Chemical energy in fuel cells is converted into electrical energy, avoiding intermediate stages. At the same time, a significant gain is obtained both in materials and in energy. These devices are long-term chemical current sources. They are environmentally friendly. Their use in the automotive industry also significantly reduces harmful emissions into the environment. There are two areas of PE application: autonomous and large power generation. In particular, FSs can solve today's pressing problem of energy storage: daily and weekly load fluctuations of power systems significantly reduce their efficiency and require so-called maneuvering capacities. One of the options for electrochemical energy storage is a fuel cell in combination with electrolyzers and gas holders (storage for large quantities of gas). The use of PE in a car promises the greatest benefits. Here, like nowhere else, the compactness of PE is indicated. Among all types of FS, FS with a polymer proton exchange membrane as an electrolyte (PEMFC) has currently found the greatest use. They are used in transport (almost 100% of all cars running on hydrogen). The segment of fuel cells with phosphoric acid as an electrolyte (PAFC) is considered the most "mature" among all fuel cell technologies. Advantages: - low requirements for fuel purity; a large resource of work. The main emphasis in their application is large stationary sources of thermal and electrical energy. FSs based on molten carbonate (MCFC) are characterized by high fuel conversion efficiency - electrical efficiency reaches 60%.
Read full abstract