MEMBRANE – FUEL CELL

What are membranes?

A membrane is basi­cally a thin film, or lamella, that is able to divide or delin­eate an element. A membrane may be perme­able to certain substances, but others cannot pass through it. Membranes are also a compo­nent of all cells, and there­fore the basis of life. So, in terms of their compo­si­tion, shape and func­tions, membranes are as multi­fac­eted as life itself. What better way of learning than from the inge­nious ideas of mother nature?

Membranes used for tech­nical appli­ca­tions consist mainly of polyurethanes and, to a lesser extent, ceramics, and both are extremely fine. To ensure adequate stability, they are supported by struc­tures made from iden­tical or different mate­rials. Membranes are gener­ally used to sepa­rate substances from each other. Membranes are generally used to separate substances from each other. Membrane systems are constructed as compact, modular structures.

Membranes are extremely versa­tile, and can be used in numerous appli­ca­tions:

• for water treat­ment in ion exchangers
• as the heart of the fuel cell
• for batteries
• for water elec­trol­ysis

Fuel cells for the cars of tomorrow

All the major car manu­fac­turers have recog­nised the poten­tial of fuel cell tech­nology. There is hardly a make of car that does not exploit this propul­sion tech­nology, while the devel­op­ment of fuel cell vehicle proto­types is becoming increas­ingly wide­spread.

Although the network of hydrogen filling stations is currently under­de­vel­opped, it is growing. Fuel cell vehicles emit only water vapour at the point of use and can be refuelled within minutes.

However, the poten­tial uses of this inno­v­a­tive tech­nology are by no means confined to the auto­mo­tive sector; fuel cells can also be used, for example, to supply elec­tricity for portable elec­trical devices or to generate elec­tricity and heating in private house­holds.