fischertechnik PROFI, Instruction Manual

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15
P
R O F I
F
U E L
C
E L L
K
I T
I
N S T R U C T I O N
M
A N U A L

Do not produce electricity or hydrogen for any purposes other than those given in
the instruction manual.

Do not produce or store more hydrogen than fi ts in the storage cylinder of the fuel
cell (around 20 ml).

Avoid continuous charging of the fuel cell.
Proper use
The Fuel Cell kit's fuel cell may only be used to operate fi schertechnik models.
How the fuel cell works
■
A fuel cell converts the chemical energy of a fuel (e.g. hydrogen) into electric current (elec-
tricity). A fuel cell is therefore not an energy store but an energy converter.
Fuels cells are used, for example, to drive vehicles and to supply homes with heat and electricity.
A fuel cell consists of two electrodes (anode and cathode), which are separated from each other
by an electrolyte membrane.
The electrodes are made of metal or carbon. They are coated with a catalyst, for example,
platinum or palladium.
Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen
react to form water. This reaction produces
an electric voltage between the two elec-
trodes which can be used, for example, to
drive an electric motor.
■
The fuel cell included in the Fuel Cell
Kit is a so-called reversible fuel cell. This
means that the fuel cell has the following
two functions:
Direct current
Air
W
ater
Anode Electrolyte membrane Cathode
H
2