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Alkali Fuel Cell History
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A U.S. Army soldier operates a portable drill
powered by a fuel cell, about 1965.
Image #R7322 from the U.S. Army
Mobility
Equipment Research and Development Center
Original U.S. Army caption:
"Power Plant of The Future...Today! - Fuel cells, which convert the
chemical energy of the fuel directly into electrical power without the wasteful heat cycle
required by internal combustion engines, are being developed at the U.S. Army Mobility
Equipment Research and Development Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., to generate precise power and
to propel vehicles. This 300-watt fuel cell can be used as an independent generator or
battery charger, or plugged into the electrical system of a vehicle for use as an auxiliary
power source, for operations requiring silence. A by-product of MERDC's research on hydrocarbon
fuel cells, it uses hydrazine, which is similar to ammonia and supplied in dripless,
self-sealing plastic throw-away bottles containing enough fuel for 12 hours of operation."
If you have information about this fuel cell image, or alkali fuel
cell technology in general, please fill out the Collecting History questionnaire
accessible through the link at the top of the previous page.
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©2001 Smithsonian Institution
(Copyright Statement)
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