Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, producing only water as a byproduct. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operates efficiently at low temperatures, while the high-temperature variant (HT PEMFC) allows for lower purity fuels. At MBR, we provide tailored PEM-based solutions ranging from 1kW to 1MW for various applications..
Fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen, the molecules that create water, to produce electricity with no pollution. First conceived in 1839, fuel cells are silent electron factories with no moving parts and no combustion. Since that time, companies around the world have been developing and refining the technology as a means of replacing traditional battery and generator technologies and to help address some of the world’s most difficult energy and environmental challenges. Fuel cells have two adjacent chambers the anode side and the cathode side-separated by a membrane. Hydrogen gas enters the anode side where the atoms react with a platinum catalyst and release electrons. That chamber becomes flooded with free electrons and hydrogen protons, or hydrogen atoms stripped of their electrons.
The positively charged hydrogen protons pass through the membrane into the cathode side of the fuel cell. The electrons flow out of the anode side to power a load. After running through the system wiring, the electrons re-enter the fuel cell on the cathode side, completing the electrical path.
On the cathode side, the hydrogen protons that slipped through the membrane combine with the free electrons and with oxygen molecules from the ambient air to produce pure water. You can envision a fuel cell as a system that borrows electrons from hydrogen, ships them off to do some useful work, such as powering radios, and then grabs them back and partners them with oxygen to form water. The chemical equation is about as simple as it gets: 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O. Because fuel cells do not have moving parts and do not rely on combustion, they are easy to maintain, very efficient, and quiet.
At MBR we maintain an agnostic approach to our fuel cell options as the scope and requirements vary depending on the systems application and use case.
Our solutions are PEM based and air-cooled or liquid cooled ranging from 1kW to 1MW capacity.
Green Energy Power Solutions
with Cost Savings and Reliability
Reliable, cost effective power and storage with maintenance free and autonomous operation, ideal for remote and off grid locations.
