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A battery uses electrochemicals to turn oxygen and hydrogen into
electricity. It has a fixed and limited capacity which will eventually expire or in other
words, run dead. A generator
uses mechanical action to create magnetic fields and thus produce electricty. This mechanical
force can be a river, the wind or a fossil fuel. Without this outside force, the generator
will not work. A fuel cell is like a combination battery and generator. Like
a battery, a fuel cell uses an electrochemical reaction to produce electricity. Like a generator,
a fuel cell needs a constant source of "fuel" to operate. The fuel for a fuel cell is hydrogen and oxygen. Most fuel cells
use the air as its oxygen source, and a fossil fuel, usually natural gas, for its hydrogen
source.  In other words, if you were to have a fuel cell installed in your home to meet your electrical
requirements, you would still need to supply it with fuel, just like you do your existing
furnace or hot water heater.
The challenge for science & business is to develop a fuel cell that will produce electricity
cheaper on this small scale than the power companies on their large scale. And, this electricity
has to be able to heat your house and hot water at less expense than your current appliances. |
