Philosophers' Cell

For more than a century, electrical engineers have sought a kind of philosophers' stone: a cell that will turn chemical fuel directly into electricity. They have had little success, but the present means of generating electricity by first burning fuel in a heat engine is so inefficient (seldom better than 30%) that they have kept on trying. A fuel cell, theoretically, could be almost 100% efficient.

In Britain's B.E.A.M.A. (British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association) Journal, Engineer F. T. Bacon of Cambridge describes the most hopeful approach so far to a practical fuel cell. Bacon uses two diaphragms of porous nickel set close together with an electrolyte (a solution of potassium hydroxide) between them. Hydrogen gas at the pressure of 800 Ibs. per sq. in. seeps through one diaphragm, oxygen through the other. They combine in the electrolyte, and the energy of their "burning" appears as electricity, not as heat.

A single cell produces less than one volt, but since its active parts need be only one-half inch thick, many cells can be stacked up in series to give higher voltage. The efficiency can be as high as 77%. Bacon believes that his fuel cell can also be used as a kind of storage battery; it can burn hydrogen and oxygen made by decomposing water with surplus electricity when demand is low. Later on, he hopes, it can burn air and impure hydrogen made with coal.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.