The sign accompanying the oxygen tank. The sign primarily describes the fuel cell displayed adjacent to
it. The sign 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 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.
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