A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel, often hydrogen, and an oxidizing agent, often oxygen, directly into electricity, requiring a continuous external supply of fuel and oxidant rather than storing energy internally the way a battery does. The English scientist William Grove built the first fuel cells in 1838, and the technology was developed into a practical stationary power source by Francis Thomas Bacon, who built a five-kilowatt alkaline fuel cell in 1932. Bacon's design became commercially important when NASA adopted it from the mid-1960s to power satellites and spacecraft, moving the fuel cell from laboratory curiosity to practical application.
Facts
YearSourced to the subject's own account SignificanceSourced to the subject's own accountA letter by Sir William Grove describing his crude gas battery in 1838 is the first reference to a hydrogen fuel cell. English engineer Francis Thomas Bacon developed the concept into a practical stationary fuel cell from 1932, and the NASA alkaline fuel cell, known as the Bacon fuel cell, supplied electricity and drinking water on the United States space program from the mid 1960s. 1 FAQs
How is a fuel cell different from a battery?
It keeps producing electricity as long as fuel is supplied.
A fuel cell works like a battery, but it does not run down or need recharging. It produces electricity and heat for as long as fuel is supplied, unlike a battery that holds its energy inside it.
Connections
Associated With
Fuel cells are an energy conversion technology within energy engineering
In Field
Source Fuel Cell (Wikipedia)
Invented By
Source Wikipedia: William Grove
Sources
1. Fuel Cell (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHistory section, paragraph 1
The first references to hydrogen fuel cells appeared in 1838. In a letter dated October 1838 but published in the December 1838 edition of The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, Welsh physicist and barrister Sir William Grove wrote about the development of his first crude fuel cells.
History section, paragraph 2
In 1932, English engineer Francis Thomas Bacon successfully developed a 5 kW stationary fuel cell. NASA used the alkaline fuel cell (AFC), also known as the Bacon fuel cell after its inventor, from the mid-1960s.
In Field: Chemical Engineering, Lead section
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions.
In Group: Electrochemical Cells and Processes, Lead paragraph
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel
View the Source Wikipedia: William Grove
Invented By: William Grove, LeadQuote, Invented By: William Grove, Lead
theory of the conservation of energy, and was a pioneer of fuel cell technology. He invented the Grove voltaic cell.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.