Static Electrolyte Alkaline Fuel Cells

In space applications, the advantages of greater mechanical simplicity mean that this approach is now used. However, for terrestrial applications, where the problem of carbon dioxide contamination of the electrolyte is bound to occur, renewal of the electrolyte must be possible. For this matrix-type cell, this would require a complete fuel cell rebuild. Also, the use of asbestos is a severe problem, as it is hazardous to health, and in some countries 

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This mobile electrolyte system was used by Bacon in his historic alkaline fuel cells of the 1950s and in the Apollo mission fuel cells. It is almost universally used in terrestrial systems, but the Shuttle Orbiter vehicles use a static electrolyte, as described in the next section. 

Fig. 1.7 Schematic of alkaline fuel cell with static electrolyte (Larminie and Dicks 2003)...

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