Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a 100 W class Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell based Power System (FCPS) on its orbital platform, POEM3.
- The experiment aimed to assess the operation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cells in space and gather data for designing systems for future missions.
- Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity directly and are efficient, emission-free, and ideal for space missions.
The test was part of the POEM-3 experiment executed during the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission.
Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, also known as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. They use a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte and typically use hydrogen as the fuel.
