Source- This post is based on the article “ISRO successfully tests Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell on PSLV-C58’s orbital platform POEM3” published in “The Hindu” on 5th January 2024.
Why in the News?
ISRO successfully tested a 100 W Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Power System (FCPS) on the orbital platform POEM3, which was launched onboard PSLV-C58 on January 1, 2024.
What did ISRO Observe in the Conducted Experiment?
1) Objective- To evaluate the functioning of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cells in space and gather data to support the design of systems for upcoming missions.
2) During a brief test on POEM, the system generated 180 W of power by utilizing hydrogen and oxygen gases stored in high-pressure vessels.
3) It offered extensive data on the performance of diverse static and dynamic systems within the power system, as well as the underlying physics involved.
4) Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity directly from hydrogen and oxygen gases, producing pure water and heat as byproducts. It is an electric generator which works on electrochemical principles, as in batteries, as against the combustion reactions employed in conventional generators.
5) Producing electricity directly from fuels makes fuel cells highly efficient, and being emission-free with only water as a byproduct further enhances their environmental benefits.
6) India is proposing to establish a space station by 2035, and the FCPS payload could potentially find applications in it.
What is Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell?
1) Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, also called proton exchange membrane fuel cells, use a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte. Hydrogen is typically used as the fuel.
2) These cells operate at relatively low temperatures and can quickly vary their output to meet shifting power demands.
3) They are being developed mainly for transport applications, as well as for stationary and portable fuel-cell applications.
What is ISRO’s ‘POEM’ platform?
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