Have you heard of a fuel cell before? No? Then you stumbled on to the right article. Here, you will learn the difference between a fuel cell and a battery.
Energy-generating systems all across the world are going through a major change. Since we are gradually leaving the era of dependence on fossil fuels, technological advancements are proffering diverse solutions for our transportation and energy needs in general.
As we all know that the fuel cells and batteries are the most competing technologies nowadays, now they even work together to come up with more options for the transportation and power sector.
What then are the differences between a Fuel Cell and a Battery? Let’s find out.
Difference between a Fuel Cells and a Battery
What is a Fuel Cell?
Fuel cells work just like batteries, the difference is, they do not need to be recharged as they can never run down empty. Fuel Cells keep producing energy, electricity and heat energy, as long as the fuel (in whatever form) is supplied to them.
A Fuel cell can be used in various kinds of applications, from providing power for various applications such as transportation, industrial, commercial, residential buildings, to the storage of energy in reversible grid systems for a long time.
What is a Battery?
A Battery is a set of one or more cells in which the chemical reactions create a flow of electrons. Unlike Fuel Cells, a battery needs to be recharged intermittently in order to continue working. The batteries are usually made up of three basic components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte.
Differences Between Fuel Cells and Batteries.
The most significant difference between a Fuel Cell and a Battery is that a Battery keeps the energy stored in, and on the other hand, a Fuel Cell generates energy by the process of converting fuel. Although a Fuel Cell can always have a battery as a system component to store energy.
The electrical energy which is stored in a battery either comes from that factory where the battery is being made, or from recharging the battery. Now, if your battery dies, you have to either recharge it from any source of energy or you have to buy a new one. The Fuel Cell is completely different. A Fuel Cell’s energy source is propane, diesel, or natural gas, and it converts these energy sources into electrical energy. So, you have electricity available as long as you have these energy sources. Anywhere, anytime, you can create your own electricity by using the Fuel Cell. Another solid difference between a fuel cell and a battery.
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Why Fuel Cells?
Contrary to a generator, a Fuel Cell coverts fuel in just one single step (directly) by chemical reaction. This process makes a Fuel Cell quiet, efficient, and clean, unlike a generator that contributes to noise pollution.
Although there are advancements in battery technologies now, but portability is also a main factor to consider while choosing something between a Fuel Cell and a battery. A 20 lb. propane tank can be easily converted into nearly 3400-amp hours of power. On the other hand, a standard battery, which weighs around 60 lb., can only work up to 80-amp hours.
By using a Fuel Cell which is portable, Like the innovative Fuel Cells which are made by WATT Fuel Cells, you can carry the Fuel Cell in your hand with you wherever you want to go e.g., to camping, picnic, to very remote locations where there is no power at all.
Creating electricity is an easy thing when you have a portable Fuel Cell. What you have to do is you have to attach a fuel source such as a propane tank or canister and start charging your batteries quietly and efficiently by pressing a switch it is as simple as that.
Get rid of extra weight (batteries), grab a fuel cell.
