Fuel Cell Challenge

Has developed a new challenge that will soon be available to teachers!

• Engineering Design Experience used in our other challenges• Classroom kit has materials to build nine student vehicles

• PEM fuel cell powers the vehicles’ electric motor• STEM concepts integrated in the curriculum

• Energy transformations explored

Parts in the

Student Design

Kit

Preparing the fuel

cell

Cut some tubing; you’ll want a couple 1”

pieces, and a 2” and 3” piece

Attach the tubing to the 5ml syringes and the pressure relief valves

Hydrate the fuel cell; inject distilled water into the oxygen side

Preparing the

fuel cellAttach the valves to the lower nozzles on the cell

Insert the banana clips…

…into the fuel cell

Attach the syringes to the upper nozzles

Electrolysis with the fuel cell

The battery pack should be

off

Attach the battery pack to the fuel cell; red to red

and black to black

POLARITY IS EXTREMEMLY IMPORTANT!

Turn the battery pack on; observe the plungers

moving as gas is being produced; turn the battery

pack off to stop gas production.

Using the fuel cell to power a motorAttach the black and red

leads from the banana clips on the fuel cell to the leads on the back of the

motorObserve the plungers as

the gas is used by the fuel cell

(click image to animate)

Assembling the vehicleAttach the gear box to

the chassis

Attach the axle brace to the front of the vehicle

Push wheels on to the axles

Attach the fuel cell mounting brace to the

chassis

Attach the fuel cell to the

brace

Check back afterJanuary 21st, 2009

for ordering information