English Abstract
Technical Problems and Future Perspective on Fuel Cells
Takuya Homma
Fuel Cell Development Information Center, Tokyo, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi, (2004), 77(3), 90-95 General Review in Japanese.


Abstract
At present, PEFC(Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell) is becoming more and more attractive on expectation of being especially realized as fuel cell propulsion system for electric vehicles and residential co-generation devices. Some car companies provided the governmental organizations with totally 5 fuel cell vehicles on a lease of 30 months on December 2 2002. These companies are planning to expand their marketing efforts for sectors including local public and private industrial organizations in 2003.With respect to phosphoric acid fuel cells, it is believed that these have already reached at the stage of practical applications as stationary co-generation power plants, though not yet being cost effective. SOFC as well as MCFC are attractive for especially electric utility because of its capability of realizing very high efficient power generation system. Several electric companies are developing various types of both planar and tubular SOFC cells. In order to improve the performance of mobile devices such as note type personal computers and mobile phone, especially in terms of power sources, many companies recently pay an attention to micro fuel cells.

Keywords:
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC), Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC), Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV), Co-generation for domestic use, High temperature fuel cell, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC), Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC), Hydrogen station
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