You are expected to perform experiments that will permit you to evaluate the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell as an electrical source for a selected engineering application. This will involve estimating the fuel cell efficiency as an electrical source, estimating the energy that is released as heat, being concerned about the mass and volume of the cell and the fuel containers required for mobile power-plant use, and estimating the energy required to produce the hydrogen fuel from water or some other source. Examples of current fuel cell uses include:

i) The electrical power source for spacecraft.

ii) Fuel to electrical power conversion for busses and cars.

iii) Area energy sources for housing and shopping centers. Waste heat can also be used in this application to provide hot water.

iv) Power packs for video cameras, with the hydrogen stored as a metallic hydride.