Bränslecellssystemen

Bränslecellssystemen, commonly referred to as fuel cell systems in English, are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. The most common fuel used is hydrogen, and the oxidizing agent is oxygen from the air. The process is similar to a battery, but instead of discharging stored energy, fuel cell systems continuously produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied.

A typical fuel cell system consists of several key components. The heart of the system is the fuel cell stack, which is composed of multiple individual fuel cells. Each fuel cell contains an electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode. At the anode, the fuel (e.g., hydrogen) is oxidized, releasing electrons and protons. The electrolyte allows the protons to pass through to the cathode, while the electrons are directed through an external circuit, generating an electric current. At the cathode, the protons, electrons, and oxygen combine to form water, which is the primary byproduct.

In addition to the fuel cell stack, a complete fuel cell system includes a fuel processing unit (if the fuel is not pure hydrogen), an air supply system, a heat management system, and a power conditioning system to regulate the output voltage and current. These systems are designed to optimize performance, efficiency, and durability.

Bränslecellssystemen offer several advantages, including high efficiency, low or zero emissions at the point of use (particularly with hydrogen fuel, producing only water), and quiet operation. They are being developed and deployed in various applications, ranging from transportation (cars, buses, trains) and portable electronics to stationary power generation for buildings and backup power systems.