owever, can compromise the effectiveness of the process. Fuel cell technology today works effective with only with a few fuel sources รน reactants, among which the more prominent in use are hydrogen and methane. Both hydrogen and methane are difficult to store and dangerous to handle (Winters 26).
Fuel cells essentially are batteries with a fuel source that continually recharges a battery (Winters 26). As an electromechanical devise, the fuel cell converts chemical energy caused by the oxidation of a gas in to electrical energy in a continuous process. Specifically, a fuel cell combines a fuel source containing hydrogen with oxygen to produce electric power, heat, and water (Connelley 1)
The three fuel cell systems on a NASA space shuttle orbiter operate as independent electrical power sources. Each fuel cell system supplies a separate, isolated, simultaneously operating 28-volt dc bus. The fuel cell consists of a power section, where the chemical reaction occurs, and an accessory section that controls and monitors the power section's performance. The power section is where hydrogen and oxygen are transformed into electrical power, water, and heat. Manifolds extend through the length of the substacks. The manifolds distribute hydrogen, oxygen and coolant to the fuel cells (Hoogers 186).
Fuel cells produce energy. The fuel cells used in NASA space shuttle vehicles produce energy through the creation of a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen. In reactions in nature, hydrogen burns when it encounters oxygen. The reaction produces water, light, and heat. The chemical reaction is as follows: 2H2 + 02 ? 2H20. In a fuel cell, the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen produces electrical energy in place light and heat. This outcome occurs because hydrogen flows over one electrode while oxygen flows over a second electrode. An electrolyte substance separates the two electrodes, which facilitates the movement of...