The history of the fuel
cell can be traced back to the nineteenth century and the work of the British
judge and scientist, Sir William Robert Grove (1811-1896). In 1839 he constructed
the first working prototype of a device that would later be termed the
fuel cell.
In his experiments he used two platinum electrodes each enclosed in separate sealed bottles, one containing hydrogen and one oxygen. Both electrodes were immersed in dilute sulphuric acid, serving as an electrolyte. A current began to flow between the two electrodes and water was formed in the gas bottles. In order to increase the voltage produced, Grove linked several of these devices in series and produced what he referred to as a 'gas battery'.
The term 'fuel cell' was coined by the chemists Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer in 1889 as they attempted to build the first practical device using air and industrial coal gas.
By the end of the century the advent of the internal combustion engine and the widespread exploitation of fossil fuels meant that the fuel cell was relegated to the status of a scientific curiosity.
The next major chapter in the fuel cell story was written by an engineer at Cambridge University, Dr. Francis Thomas Bacon. In 1932 Bacon reconstructed and modified the apparatus developed by Mond and Langer. He replaced the platinum electrodes with less expensive nickel gauze and substituted the sulphuric acid electrolyte for alkali potassium hydroxide. This device which he named the 'Bacon Cell' was in essence the first alkaline fuel cell (AFC). In 1959 Bacon demonstrated a machine capable of producing 5 kW of power.
Later that year Harry Karl Ihrig of Allis-Chalmers, a farm equipment manufacturer, demonstrated the first fuel cell powered vehicle. By combining 1008 cells he produced a fuel cell stack which could generate 15 kW and was capable of powering a 20 horsepower tractor.
In spacecraft and submarines there is a need for electricity but without using combustion engines. NASA began to build a compact electricity generator for use on space missions.
Fuel cell energy is now expected to replace traditional power sources in coming years – from micro fuel cells to be used in cell phones to high-powered fuel cells for stock car racing.
In his experiments he used two platinum electrodes each enclosed in separate sealed bottles, one containing hydrogen and one oxygen. Both electrodes were immersed in dilute sulphuric acid, serving as an electrolyte. A current began to flow between the two electrodes and water was formed in the gas bottles. In order to increase the voltage produced, Grove linked several of these devices in series and produced what he referred to as a 'gas battery'.
The term 'fuel cell' was coined by the chemists Ludwig Mond and Charles Langer in 1889 as they attempted to build the first practical device using air and industrial coal gas.
By the end of the century the advent of the internal combustion engine and the widespread exploitation of fossil fuels meant that the fuel cell was relegated to the status of a scientific curiosity.
The next major chapter in the fuel cell story was written by an engineer at Cambridge University, Dr. Francis Thomas Bacon. In 1932 Bacon reconstructed and modified the apparatus developed by Mond and Langer. He replaced the platinum electrodes with less expensive nickel gauze and substituted the sulphuric acid electrolyte for alkali potassium hydroxide. This device which he named the 'Bacon Cell' was in essence the first alkaline fuel cell (AFC). In 1959 Bacon demonstrated a machine capable of producing 5 kW of power.
Later that year Harry Karl Ihrig of Allis-Chalmers, a farm equipment manufacturer, demonstrated the first fuel cell powered vehicle. By combining 1008 cells he produced a fuel cell stack which could generate 15 kW and was capable of powering a 20 horsepower tractor.
In spacecraft and submarines there is a need for electricity but without using combustion engines. NASA began to build a compact electricity generator for use on space missions.
Fuel cell energy is now expected to replace traditional power sources in coming years – from micro fuel cells to be used in cell phones to high-powered fuel cells for stock car racing.
