How can the efficiency of a fuel cell be maximized?

How can the efficiency of a fuel cell be maximized?

• A. By decreasing the temperature
• B. By increasing the pressure and temperature
• C. By reducing the surface area of electrodes
• D. By using non-conductive materials

Answer: (B)

Maximizing the efficiency of a fuel cell is largely achieved by optimizing the operating conditions, which include temperature and pressure. Increasing both the pressure and temperature enhances the thermodynamic potential and drives the reaction kinetics more favorably. At higher temperatures, the reaction rates increase, and the overall cell reaction can approach more of the theoretical efficiency limits. Higher pressure enhances the concentration of reactants, allowing for more collision frequency between reactant molecules, resulting in increased reaction rates. Thus, operating a fuel cell under increased pressure and temperature can contribute to higher efficiency due to the better utilization of the fuel and more effective energy conversion. In contrast, other options would lead to diminished efficiency. Lowering the temperature would reduce reaction rates, while reducing the surface area of electrodes would limit the amount of active material available for the reaction. Using non-conductive materials would prevent the flow of electricity entirely, further hindering any possibility of efficiency improvement.

Maximizing the efficiency of a fuel cell is largely achieved by optimizing the operating conditions, which include temperature and pressure. Increasing both the pressure and temperature enhances the thermodynamic potential and drives the reaction kinetics more favorably. At higher temperatures, the reaction rates increase, and the overall cell reaction can approach more of the theoretical efficiency limits.

Higher pressure enhances the concentration of reactants, allowing for more collision frequency between reactant molecules, resulting in increased reaction rates. Thus, operating a fuel cell under increased pressure and temperature can contribute to higher efficiency due to the better utilization of the fuel and more effective energy conversion.

In contrast, other options would lead to diminished efficiency. Lowering the temperature would reduce reaction rates, while reducing the surface area of electrodes would limit the amount of active material available for the reaction. Using non-conductive materials would prevent the flow of electricity entirely, further hindering any possibility of efficiency improvement.