Can fuel cells run on methane?

And improvements throughout the cell dramatically cooled the operating temperatures customary in methane fuel cells. Methane fuel cells usually require temperatures of 750 to 1,000°C.

What fuel can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity?

hydrogen
A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, the only products are electricity, water, and heat.

Why don’t we use methane as fuel?

Natural gas, which primarily consists of methane, is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. However, methane that is released into the atmosphere before it is burned is harmful to the environment. Because it is able to trap heat in the atmosphere, methane contributes to climate change.

What is a methane fuel cell?

A fuel cell is an electromechanical device that converts the chemical energy from the methane in natural gas into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen.

Can a fuel cell run on gasoline?

Unlike the hydrogen fuel cells typically used in cars, solid-oxide fuel cells can run on a variety of readily available fuels, including diesel, gasoline, and natural gas.

Can fuel cells run on natural gas?

Fuel cells are the most energy efficient devices for extracting power from fuels. Capable of running on a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, natural gas, and biogas, fuel cells can provide clean power for applications ranging from less than a watt to multiple megawatts.

Is methane an efficient fuel source?

In many cases they are replaced by natural gas (which is made up primarily of methane gas) plants, which now produce nearly 40 percent of the U.S.’s energy needs. Methane burns more efficiently than coal, making it a better option, carbon-cost-wise and air-pollution-wise, than coal.

Can methane power an engine?

Although not an engine hack per se, methane can be used to run an engine. As the traditional method of powering an internal combustion engine, gasoline, gets more and more expensive, alternatives will have to be found.

Do fuel cells use natural gas?

A fuel cell uses the chemical energy stored in fuels—like natural gas—and converts it into usable electricity.

How does a methane fuel cell work?

The material catalyzes an oxidation process that releases carbon dioxide, electrons, and protons. The protons then react with oxygen at the cathode to produce water. The process converts methane directly to electricity at 80 °C and generates five times the power of any previous low-temperature direct methane fuel cell.