Fuel Cell - OLD SITE - CLICK HERE FOR NEW SITE
In February 2008 we installed a 5kW IdaTech ElectraGen™ Fuel Cell System to power our cafe/bar and Studio 1 lighting.
The fuel cell runs on hydrogen (for more details click here). The fuel cell system generates 50V DC which is converted to 240V AC by an inverter. Circuit diagram to follow shortly.
A fuel cell can be thought of as a cross between a battery and an engine - like a battery it operates electrochemically with no noise or moving parts, directly converting the chemical energy of the fuel to electricity; whilst like an engine it can operate continually from an external fuel supply.
A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack (the fuel cell) and ancilliary components including fuel and air supply pumps and power electronics.
Fuel Cells were invented in 1839 have been under development ever since. They were used during the 1960’s Apollo space missions and are currently under development for applications ranging from mobile phones to cars to homes to locomotives.
Further details on the fuel cell can be found in the ElectraGen™ Brochure or at www.idatech.com.