• The hydrogen fuel cell is a clean and efficient way to store energy and produce electricity.
• With this system, students have a real example of new energy technology.
• Using a bulb or solar energy, the solar panel in this system converts the light energy into electricity.
• This energy is then used for electrolysis, which produces oxygen and hydrogen from water. The hydrogen is stored in a tank to be used later with the fuel cell.
• The hydrogen is used as a fuel by the fuel cell, the oxygen being the combustive. The process that takes place in the fuel cell can be considered the reverse reaction to the electrolysis of water: water, electricity and heat is then produced from hydrogen and oxygen.
• In the case of this system, the electricity produced by the fuel cell is used to operate a ventilator. This fuel cell has a performance level of about 50%.
• The electrolyzer, like the fuel cell, is based on a proton exchange membrane (PEM). This membrane is composed of a solid polymer electrolyte positioned between 2 catalyzers. These form the cell’s cathode and anode.
• One of the advantages of this type of battery is that it functions from the ambient temperature, as the start-up time is almost instantaneous.

Teaching objectives

• Electricity production from a solar panel.
• Current and voltage characteristics of a solar panel.
• Current and voltage characteristics of an electrolyzer
• Performance of an electrolyzer
• Current and voltage characteristics of a fuel cell.

Technical specifications

• Dimensions: 15 cm x 53 cm x 18 cm.
• Solar cell: 2,5 V – 300 mA.
• Voltage of the fuel cell: 0.3 – 0.9 V.
• Power of the ventilator: 20 mW.
• Voltage sensor.
• Current sensor.
• Interface: Science Workshop 500 or 750