The Development of Fuel Batteries for the Commercial Market

Most research and development work on fuel cells is government supported and directed toward military and space applications, but sizable private activity is directed toward developing fuel cells for commercial applications.

Of the many requirements which a commercial fuel-cell system must meet, cost and reliability are most difficult of attainment.

Development of an electrochemical device consuming hydrogen and oxygen has passed from the research to the engineering development stage. Compromise fuels include methanol and ammonia. A hydrocarbon/air fuel battery offers challenging research problems, and extensive effort being applied suggests that rapid progress may be expected.