Fluorescent Light

By admin at 3 January, 2009, 4:19 am

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Fluorescent Light – The conversion of electric power to visible light by using an electric charge to excite gaseous atoms in a glass tube. These atoms emit ultraviolet radiation that is absorbed by a phosphor coating on the walls of the lamp tube. The phosphor coating produces visible light. Fluorescent light uses substantially less electricity than incandescent light.

Fly Ash – The fine particulate matter entrained in the flue gases of a combustion power plant. Historically, fly ash had been considered a waste material. Due to the high metals content, disposal in landfills could cause contamination of groundwater sources. Recently, fly ash has been used as a material in concrete. Due to the properties of fly ash, and due to the capability for fly ash to substitute for a particular percentage of Portland cement, fly ash concrete reduces the amount of energy needed to produce concrete. Fly ash concrete also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere when Portland cement is processed.

Fuel Cell – A fuel cell consists of two electrodes—a negative electrode (or anode) and a positive electrode (or cathode)—sandwiched around an electrolyte. Hydrogen is fed to the anode, and oxygen is fed to the cathode. Activated by a catalyst, hydrogen atoms separate into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity. The protons migrate through the electrolyte to the cathode, where they reunite with oxygen and the electrons to produce water and heat.

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