Types Of Fuel Cells

4.4  Types of Fuel Cells

• There are at least 15 different types of fuel cells, designed to meet a variety of applications such as transportation, portable cell phones, laptop computers, power plants, houses, offices, etc.
  
  
• The “Proton Exchange Membrane” fuel cell (PEMFC) is commonly used in vehicles. It has an operating temperature of about 83 degrees C (175 degrees F).
  
  
• When used in a car it is about the size of a medium suitcase.
  
  
• Note: The letters PEMFC are sometimes referred to as the “Polymer Electrolyte Membrane” fuel cell.
  
  
• Oher types of fuel cells include:
  
  
  • “Alkali FC” (AFC), which is used by NASA.
    
    
  • The “Direct Methanol FC” (DMFC), which uses pure methanol mixed with steam.
    
    
  • The Phosphoric Acid FC (PAFC), used mainly for stationary power generation because they tend to large and heavy. 
    
    
• For further information these and the many other types of fuel cells and their uses see Green Cars, Section 10 (Green Web Site Links).