A fuel cell stack works by combining multiple individual fuel cells in series to generate a higher voltage, as a single fuel cell produces insufficient voltage for most applications.
Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- Individual Fuel Cells: Each fuel cell generates electricity through electrochemical reactions, converting chemical energy into electrical energy in the form of direct current (DC). However, a single fuel cell typically produces less than 1 volt.
- Series Connection: To achieve a usable voltage, individual fuel cells are connected in series, forming a fuel cell stack. This arrangement adds the voltage of each cell together. For example, if you have 100 fuel cells each producing 0.7 volts, the stack would produce 70 volts.
- Electrochemical Reactions: The core function of a fuel cell stack is to facilitate electrochemical reactions that produce electricity, where fuel and an oxidant react to create a flow of electrons.
- DC Power Output: The resulting electrical output is in the form of direct current (DC), which can then be used directly or converted to alternating current (AC) using an inverter, depending on the application.
In essence, a fuel cell stack amplifies the voltage output of individual fuel cells through a series connection to make it suitable for various applications that require higher voltage levels.
