ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the development and commercialization of fuel cells and how this may benefit the desalination industry. The largest markets for fuel cells for energy generation are in stationary power, portable power, auxiliary power units, and material-handling equipment. Fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical current and heat without combustion. Fuel cells are generally classified according to their operating conditions, their structure, and the nature of the electrolyte used in the fuel cell. Five different categories of fuel cells have been identified, each using a different electrolyte. They are: alkaline fuel cells (AFCs); phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs); proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs); and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Fuel cells offer the highest electrical efficiency of any combined heat and power (CHP) technology, and even small, micro-CHP fuel cells are at least equivalent to the best conventional power stations.
