FUEL CELLS

EVOLVING CONCEPTS AND DEVELOPMENTS

 Introduction
Output of conventional batteries are limited.
They are polluting.
Continuous operation results in fall in
efficiency.
Output not stable under long durations of
operations.
 Fuel Cells
An Electrochemical energy conversion device
Produces electricity from external fuel and
oxidant.
Can operate virtually continuously as long as
the necessary flows are maintained.
 General Structure
Two electrodes
sandwiched around an
electrolyte
Hydrogen fuel is fed
into the anode
Oxygen enters through
the cathode.
 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Permeable electrodes
are used.
Hydrogen from fuel and
oxygen permeate the
corresponding
electrodes.
Electrons flow through
the external circuit.
 Features
Advantages
High efficiency
Fuel flexibility
Can use a variety of catalysts
Solid electrolyte reduces electrolyte management
problems
Suitable for CHP
Disadvantage
Slow start-up
Brittleness of ceramic electrolyte with thermal cycling
 Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
A Hydrogen- Oxygen
fuel cell.
Uses a polymer
membrane along with
electrolyte.
Anode splits hydrogen
into proton and
electron.
 The membrane allows
only the proton to pass.
Electrons take the
external circuit, forming
current.
Membrane prevents
leakage of gas from
either side into
electrolyte.
 Types of PEM Fuel Cells
Direct Methanol
CH3OH + H2O CO2 + 6H+ + 6e-
Direct Ethanol
Non-toxic.
Direct Formic Acid
Does not cross over the polymer membrane, so
higher efficiency than methanol.
 Features of PEM Fuel Cell
Advantages
Solid electrolyte reduces corrosion & electrolyte
management problems
Low temperature
Quick start-up
Disadvantages
Requires expensive catalysts
High sensitivity to fuel impurities
 Alkaline Fuel Cell
Electrolyte is a porous
matrix saturated with
aqueous alkaline
solution (normally KOH)
Provides heat,
electricity and potable
water as outputs.
Used in Apollo Mission
to moon. 1: Hydrogen 2:Electron flow 3:Charge
4:Oxygen 5:Cathode 6:Electrolyte 7:Anode
8:Water 9:Hydroxyl Ions
 Fuels used in Alkaline Fuel Cells
Metal Hydride
Ability to be recharged with electrical energy
Low operating temperatures (down to -20C);
Fast kinetics;
Extended shelf life;
Absorbs and stores hydrogen within the cell.
 Fuels used in Alkaline Fuel Cells
Direct borohydride cell
A solution of sodium borohydride is used as the
fuel.
Prevents the conversion of KOH to K2CO3
Cheaper than traditional fuel cells as it does not
need platinum electrodes.
 Features of Alkaline fuel cell
Advantages
Cathode reaction faster in alkaline electrolyte,
higher performance
Byproduct is pure water, can be used for other
purposes.
Gives out heat which can be used for heating
purposes.
Disadvantages
Expensive removal of CO2 from the cell required.
 Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
Operates at high
temperature
Molten carbonate is
used as electrolyte.
Produces water and CO2
as byproducts.
Delivers high power, of
the order 100 MW
 Features
Advantages
High efficiency
Fuel flexibility
Can use a variety of catalysts
Suitable for CHP
Disadvantages
High temperature speeds corrosion and breakdown of
cell components
Complex electrolyte management
Slow start-up
 Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
Electrolyte used is Phosphoric Acid
Not affected by CO in the hydrogen stream
Works above a temperature of 400C.
If working at 150 to 200 C, expelled water can
be converted to steam and used for
heating.Combined heat and power efficiency
of 80 %.
Large weight and size
 Zinc Air Fuel Cells
Zinc particles mixed with electrolyte which reacts
electrolytically to form zincate and eventually
Zinc Oxide.
Zinc fuel is replenished and zinc oxide waste is
removed continuously
High energy density (110 Wh/kg)
Low material costs
Eliminates exhaust pollution
Mechanically rechargeable
Simple Design
 Reversible Fuel Cells
The product of fuel cell, on application of
electricity (electrolysis), gives back the initial
fuel.
Theoretically, any fuel cell is reversible, but
cost inhibiting high.
Generally used as energy storage systems.
 Microbial Fuel Cells
Bio-electrochemical system that uses microbes
for oxidation of fuel, normally organic matter.
In anode compartment, fuel is oxidised by
bacteria, to release protons and electrons.
Protons pass through a cation- specific
membrane and reach the cathode through the
electrolyte.
Electrons flow through the external circuit.
The result of the reaction is clean water, so can
be used to treat waste water, etc.
 Types
Mediator Microbial Fuel Cell
Most of the microbial cells are electrochemically
inactive. The electron transfer from microbial cells to
the electrode is facilitated by mediators such as
thionine, methyl blue, neutral red, etc.
Mediator-less Microbial Fuel Cell
Do not need mediators.
Use electrochemically active bacteria like Shewanella
putrefaciens or Aeromonas hydrophila to transfer
electrons to the electrode (electrons are carried
directly from the bacterial respiratory enzyme to the
electrode).
 Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell
Uses ceramic electrolyte that shows high
protonic conductivity at high temperatures.
Suitable for use at elevated temperature.
Reforming of fuel to hydrogen not necessary
Since electrolyte is solid, no danger of drying
up or leakage.
 Performance of Fuel Cells
Fuel Cell Type Operating System Output Applications
Temperature
PEM Fuel Cell 50 - 100C <1kW 250kW Backup power
Portable power
Small distributed
generation
Transportation
Solid Oxide FC 650 - 1000C 5kW 3MW Auxiliary power
Electric utility
Large distributed
generation
Alkaline Fuel Cell 90 - 100C 10kW 100kW Military
Space
Phosphoric Acid FC 150 - 200C 50kW 1MW Distributed
generation
Molten Carbonate FC 600 - 700C <1kW 1MW Electric utility
Large distributed
generation
 Applications
Stationary
Either connected to power grid as back up or
supplementary power or independent in
inaccessible areas.
Waste heat generated can be used for other
purposes.
Since silent, no noise pollution.
 Telecommunications.
To provide highly reliable power to
telecommunication systems, either as back-up or
primary.
Independent of weather and durable.
Used in telecom switching nodes, mobile phone
towers, etc.
 Landfills/Wastewater Treatment
Plants/Breweries
Methane gas evolving can be used as fuel for fuel
cells.
Can use microbial fuel cells also.
Reduces effluents and poisonous gases.
 Transportation
Passenger Cars: Initiatives like Freedom Car and
California Fuel Cell Partnership have brought close
the dream of a fuel cell powered car, expected to
release commercially in 2010.
Buses: Over 50 buses already tested in various
country.
Use of fuel cells for trains, aeroplanes and boats
are under research.
 Auxilliary Power in vehicles.
To keep amenities like air conditioning and heater
running when vehicle is stopped.
Also used in most submarines.
Portable Power
May be used where there is no power network.
May be used by defense personnel in remote
places of combat.
 Consumer Electronics
For use as laptop and cellular phone batteries, to
last much longer.
Can be used to work portable power tools such as
drills.
Space
Used in Apollo mission, as it provides power, heat
and potable water.
Since then used in most manned space missions.
Timeline of Fuel Cells
 Fuel Cell Name Electrolyte Working Temperature (C) Status

Aqueous alkaline solution above -20

Metal hydride fuel cell Commercial/ Research
(e.g.potassium hydroxide) (50% Ppeak @ 0C)

Aqueous alkaline solution

Electro-galvanic fuel cell under 40 Commercial/ Research
(e.g., potassium hydroxide)

Direct formic acid fuel cell

Polymer membrane (ionomer) under 40 Commercial/ Research
(DFAFC)

Aqueous alkaline solution

Zinc-air battery under 40 Mass production
(e.g., potassium hydroxide)

Polymer membrane or humic

Microbial fuel cell under 40 Research
acid

Upflow microbial fuel cell

under 40 Research
(UMFC)
 Polymer membrane
Reversible fuel cell under 50 Commercial/ Research
(ionomer)

Aqueous alkaline solution

Direct borohydride fuel cell 70 Commercial
(e.g., sodium hydroxide)

Aqueous alkaline solution

Alkaline fuel cell under 80 Commercial/ Research
(e.g., potassium hydroxide)

Direct methanol fuel cell Polymer membrane (ionomer) 90120 Commercial/ Research

(Reformer)250300
Reformed methanol fuel cell Polymer membrane (ionomer) Commercial/ Research
(PBI)125200

above 25
Direct-ethanol fuel cell Polymer membrane (ionomer) Research
? 90120

Formic acid fuel cell Polymer membrane (ionomer) 90120 Research

 Polymer membrane
Proton exchange (Nafion)50120
(ionomer) (e.g., Nafion or Commercial/ Research
membrane fuel cell (PBI)125220
Polybenzimidazole fiber)

Liquid electrolytes with redox

RFC - Redox shuttle & polymer membrane Research
(Ionomer)

Molten phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid fuel cell 150-200 Commercial/ Research
(H3PO4)

Molten alkaline carbonate

Molten carbonate fuel cell (e.g., sodium bicarbonate 600-650 Commercial/ Research
NaHCO3)

Tubular solid oxide fuel cell O2--conducting ceramic oxide

850-1100 Commercial/ Research
(TSOFC) (e.g., zirconium dioxide, ZrO2)

Protonic ceramic fuel cell H+-conducting ceramic oxide 700 Research

Direct carbon fuel cell Several different 700-850 Commercial/ Research

O2--conducting ceramic oxide

Planar Solid oxide fuel cell 7001000 Commercial/ Research
(e.g., zirconium dioxide, ZrO2)
REFERENCE
THANK YOU
 ElDorado National RE-29E
L/W/H: 30ft/96in/116in
Wheel base: 160in
GVWR/Curb Weight:
29,000lb/22,240lb
Seats: 23; Base shuttle service
120kW Enova Systems Electric
Drive System
140Ahr Hawker Advanced Lead
Acid Battery
20kW Hydrogenics Fuel Cell
Power Module
Two Dynetek 5kg Hydrogen
Storage Tanks (5000psi); total
storage 10kg
 Workhorse Chassis P31842
Utilimaster 16ft Walk-In Body
GVWR: 14,100lb Wheel base:
178in
On-Board Power Generation
120kW Enova Systems Electric
Drive System
65kW Hydrogenics Fuel Cell
Power Module
42Ahr Hawker Advanced Lead
Acid Battery
Two Dynetek 5kg Hydrogen
Storage Tanks (5000psi); total
storage 10kg
 Entwhistle MB-4 Aircraft Tow
Vehicle
14,000lb Drawbar Pull
Four Wheel Drive; Four Wheel
Steer
Curb Weight 19,800 (stock
configuration)
On-Board Power Generation
65kW Hydrogenics Fuel Cell
Power Module
120kW Enova Systems Electric
Drive System
Hawker Advanced Lead Acid
Battery
Three Dynetek Hydrogen
Storage Tanks (5000psi); total
storage - 7kg