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Author Question: What are the disadvantages to the alkaline fuel cell (AFC) that make it more expensive to operate ... (Read 108 times)

penguins

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What are the disadvantages to the alkaline fuel cell (AFC) that make it more expensive to operate than other fuel cells?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the operation of a direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC).
 
  What will be an ideal response?



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morrie123456

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Answer to Question 1

The primary disadvantage is the requirement for pure oxygen and pure hydrogen. The fuel cell is also poisoned easily by CO2 and they have a shorter average lifetime than other fuel cell, making them less cost effective.

Answer to Question 2

Methanol and water is supplied to the fuel cell and hydrogen is extracted from the methanol by a steam reformer. Electrons are released from the hydrogen at the anode and travel through the external circuit to the cathode as electrical current. Oxygen is from air is ionized at the cathode and oxygen ions combine with hydrogen ions to form water.





 

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