WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF PEM FUEL CELLS?
PEM fuel cells display the highest power densities of any of the fuel cell types, which makes them particularly attractive for transportation and portable applications where minimum size and weight are required. They contain no corrosive liquid electrolyte and can be robust in construction and are modular and scalable in design. They are low temperature fuel cells which usually operate below 100oC. This means that unlike high temperature fuel cells such as solid oxide, which operate at ~600oC they can be fabricated from cheaper, less exotic materials. The low temperature of PEM fuel cells can also be an advantage when low thermal signature is desired. PEM fuel cells also have the advantage of potential application across a very wide range; from portable power at a few watts to hundreds of kilowatts for vehicular and stationary power.
Due to their performance characteristics, including relatively low operating temperatures, rapid start-up, high power output and energy efficiency, PEM fuel cells may be used in a wider range of applications than alternative fuel cell technologies, including the stationary power generation, mobile power generation, and portable consumer electronics.
