The sign accompanying the fuel cell. It reads
Apollo Oxygen Tank and Fuel Cell
Each cell consisted of a hydrogen and an oxygen electrode, a hydrogen and an
oxygen gas compartment, and the electrolyte. Each gas reacted independently to
produce a flow of electrons. They were normally operated at 400 degrees F and
water-glycol was used for temperature control. These fuel cells used hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen under regulated pressure to produce power and, as a
by-product, water.
Each cell individually coupled to a heat rejection (radiator) system, the
hydrogen and oxygen cryogenic storage
systems, a water storage system, and a power distribution system. A
byproduct of this chemical reaction was water, which was fed to a drinkable
water storage tank in the Command Module (CM) where it was used for astronaut
consumption and for cooling purposes in the environmental control subsystem.
This tank [referring to the liquid oxygen tank also on display] was part of the
Apollo/Skylab electrical power system and was used as a "ready for flight"
spare tank during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The fuel cell is on loan from
the Smithsonian National Air & Space
Museum.