Imagine

A future with no wars over limited supplies of Oil

A future when every country is energy selfsufficient
Earth with no Acid rains, Ozone depletion or
warming

Fuel Cells:
The energy solution for Future

Hydrogen Energy
Hydrogen is the simplest and the
most plentiful element in the
universe. Despite its simplicity
and abundance, hydrogen doesn't
occur naturally as a gas on the
Earth it's always combined
with other elements.
Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine that
burns pure hydrogen produces almost no
pollution. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since
the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other
rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells power
the space shuttle's electrical systems, producing
a clean byproductpure water.

What is a Fuel Cell ?

Electricity
Fuel cells are electrochemical
devices
like
batteries
that
convert the chemical energy of a
fuel directly and very efficiently
into electricity (DC) and heat,
thus
doing
away
with
combustion.

Electrodes

Electrolyte

Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does

not
run
down
or
require
recharging.
It
will
produce
energy in the form of electricity
and heat as long as fuel is
supplied.

History

The principle of the fuel cell was discovered by

German scientist Christian Friedrich Schnbein in
1838

Based on this work, the first fuel cell was

developed by Welsh scientist Sir William Robert
Grove in 1843. The fuel cell he made used similar
materials to today's Phosphoric-acid fuel cell.

Todyss Fuel Cell

A fuel cell system which

includes a "fuel reformer"
can utilize the hydrogen from
any hydrocarbon fuel - from
natural gas to methanol, and
even gasoline.
A modern Fuel
Cell Assembly

For a fuel cell

Chemicals constantly flow into the cell

so it never goes dead.

As long as there is a flow of chemicals into

the cell

the electricity flows out of the cell.

Most fuel cells in use today use

hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals.

Fuel Cell Descriptions

Fuel

Cells

generate

electricity through

an

electrochemical process

In which the energy stored in a fuel is converted

directly into DC electricity.

Because electrical energy is generated without

combusting fuel.

Fuel

cells

are

extremely

environmental stand point.

attractive

from

an

How Fuel Cells Work

What is the Principle ?

A fuel cell consists of
two
electrodes
sandwiched around an
electrolyte.
Oxygen
passes
over
one
electrode and hydrogen
over
the
other,
generating
electricity,
water and heat.

Working Principle

Hydrogen gas(H2)flows into channels on one face of the cell and

migrates through that electrode, while the same occurs with

Contd
oxygen gas (O2, typically from the ambient air) along the
opposite electrode.

But this wouldn't continue for long without a complete

electrochemical cycle. As the electrical current begins to
flow, hydrogen protons pass through the membrane from
the anode to the cathode.
When the electrons return from doing worklighting
your house, charging a battery, or powering your car's
motor, for examplethey react with oxygen and the
hydrogen protons at the cathode to form water. Heat
emanates from this union (an exothermic reaction), as
well as from the frictional resistance of ion transfer
through the membrane. This thermal energy can be
utilized outside the fuel cell.
Anode Reaction: H2 > 2 H+ + 2 eCathode Reaction: O2 + 2 H+ + 2 e- > H2O

Layers of materials with distinct

electrochemical properties are
sandwiched together to form a
single galvanic cell. At the heart
lies a membrane that can only
be crossed by charged
molecules.
Gas-permeable
electrodes
coated
with
a
catalyst
adhere
to
this
membrane, adding a layer on
either side. These electrodes
are in turn connected to a
device that can utilize electricity
a load which creates a
complete electrical circuit.

Fuel Cell Types

Fuel Cell type

Electrolyte

Anode gas

Cathode
gas

Temp
o
C

Efficienc
y%

Proton Ex
Membrane
(PEMFC)

Solid
polymer
membrane

Hydrogen

Pure or
Atm
Oxygen

75

35 - 60

Alkaline
(AFC)

Potassium
Hydroxide

Hydrogen

Pure
Oxygen

< 80

50 - 70

Direct
Methanol
(DMFC)

Solid
polymer
membrane

Methanol
soln in
Water

Atm
Oxygen

75

35 - 40

Phosphoric
Acid (PAFC)

Phosphorus

Hydrogen

Atm
Oxygen

210

35 - 50

Molten
Carbonate
(MCFC)

Alkali
Carbonate

Hydrogen /
Methane

Atm
Oxygen

650

40 - 55

Ceramic
Oxides

Hydrogen /
Methane

Atm
Oxygen

800 1000

45 - 60

Solid Oxide
( SOFC)

All fuel cells have the same

basic operating principle.
An input fuel is catalytically reacted (electrons removed from
the fuel elements) in the fuel cell to create an electric current.
Fuel cells consist of an electrolyte material which is
sandwiched in between two thin electrodes (porous anode and
cathode).
The input fuel passes over the anode (and oxygen over the
cathode) where it catalytically splits into ions and electrons.
The electrons go through an external circuit to serve an
electric load while the ions move through the electrolyte
toward the oppositely charged electrode.
At the electrode, ions combine to create by-products,
primarily water and CO2. Depending on the input fuel and
electrolyte, different chemical reactions will occur.

Basic Configuration

PEMFC

Animation of PEMFC

PEMFC Technology and issues

Expected life of PEMFC is very short (5,000 hours) and not suitable for
Distributed Generation (DG).

The most commonly used catalyst (Pt) is very expensive.

The most commonly used membrane (Nafion a sulfonated tetrafluorethylene

copolymer is also very expensive).

PEMFCs are very expensive.

CO poisoning diminishes the efficiency. Carbon monoxide (CO) tends to bind to

Pt. Thus, if CO is mixed with hydrogen, then the CO will take out catalyst space
for the hydrogen.

Hydrogen generation and storage is a significant problem.

Additional issues to be discussed when comparing other technologies: dynamic

response and heat production.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)

The main advantage is that they use a liquid fuel.
Reactions:
Anode
CH 3OH H 2O CO2 6 H 6e
Cathode
1/ 2O2 2 H 2e H 2O
Voltages: 0.046 V at anode, 1.23 V at cathode, 1.18 V overall.
Methanol has high energy density so DMFC are good for small portable
applications.
Issues:
Cost
Excessive fuel crossover (methanol crossing the membrane)
Low efficiency caused by methanol crossover
CO poisoning
Low temperature production
Considerable slow dynamic response

Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFCs)

One of their main advantages is their long life in the order of 40,000 hours.

The phosphoric acid serves as the electrolyte.

The reactions are the same than in a PEMFC. Hence, the reversible voltage is
1.23 V

The most commercially successful FC: 200 kW units manufactured by UTC

They produce a reasonable amount of heat

They support CO poisoning better than PEMFC

They have a relatively slow dynamic response

Relative high cost is an important issue

Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFCs)

The main advantage is that their cost is relatively low (when considering
the fuel cell stack only without accessories.
Reactions:
H 2 2OH 2 H 2O 2e
Anode
Cathode 1/ 2O 2 H O 2e 2OH
2
2
Developed for the Apollo program.
Very sensitive to CO2 poisoning. So these FCs can use impure hydrogen but
they require purifying air to utilize the oxygen.
Issues:
Cost (with purifier)
Short life (8000 hours)
Relatively low heat production

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs)

One of the main advantages is the variety of fuels and catalyst than can
be used.
Reactions:
H 2 CO32 H 2O CO2 2e
Anode
1/ 2O2 CO2 2e CO32
Cathode
They operate at high temperature. On the plus side, this high
temperature implies a high quality heat production. On the minus side, the
high temperature creates reliability issues.
They are not sensitive to CO poisoning.
They have a relatively low cost.
Issues:
Extremely slow startup
Very slow dynamic response

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)

One of the main advantages is the variety of fuels and catalyst than
can be used.
Reactions:
H 2 O 2 H 2O 2e
Anode
1/ 2O2 2e O 2
Cathode
They operate at high temperature with the same plus and minus than
in MCFCs.
They are not sensitive to CO poisoning.
They have a relatively low cost.
They have a relatively high efficiency.
They have a fast startup
The electrolyte has a relatively high resistance.

Fuel cell technologies

PEMFC

DMFC

AFC

H2

PAFC

MCFC

SOFC

H2

H2, CO,
CH4,
hydrocarb
ons

H2, CO,
CH4,
hydrocarb
ons

H2

CH3OH

Solid
polymer
(usually
Nafion)

Solid
polymer
(usually
Nafion)

Potasium
hydroxide
(KOH)

Phosporic
acid
(H3PO4
solution)

H+

H+

OH-

H+

50 100

50 - 90

60 - 120

175 200

650

1000

Efficiency (%)

35 60

< 50

35 55

35 45

45 55

50 60

Unit Size (KW)

0.1 500

<< 1

<5

5 2000

800 2000

> 2.5

4000

> 5000

< 1000*

3000
3500

800 2000

1300 - 2000

Fuel

Electrolyte

Charge carried
in electrolyte
Operational
temperature (oC)

Installed Cost
($/kW)

Lithium
Solid oxide
and
(yttria,
potassium
zirconia)
carbonate 2CO3
O2-

Potential Applications
Stationary power generation
Residential
Transportation No pollution
Portable power Miniature Fuel
Cells
Land fill Waste treatment Power
from Methane in-situ .

Stationary Power
More than 2500 fuel cell systems have been
installed all over the world
in hospitals,
nursing homes, hotels, office buildings,
schools, utility power plants, and an airport
terminal, providing primary power or backup.

In large-scale building systems, fuel cells can

reduce facility energy service costs by 20% to
40% over conventional energy service.

Residential Power
Ideal for residential power generation, either to provide
supplemental power and backup for critical areas, or
installed as independent generator in areas that are
inaccessible by power lines.
Operating silently, they reduce noise & air pollution and
the waste heat can be used to provide hot water or room
heating for a home.
Prototypes being tested & demonstrated for residential
use extract hydrogen from propane or natural gas.

Powering Transportation
All the major automotive manufacturers have a
fuel cell vehicle either in development or in
testing right now.
Honda and Toyota have already begun leasing
vehicles in California and Japan.
Fuel cells
are also being incorporated into
buses, locomotives, airplanes, scooters and golf
carts.

Landfills and Waste Water

Treatment
Fuel cells currently operate at
landfills and wastewater treatment
plants across USA.
Providing a valid technology for
reducing emissions and generating
power from the methane gas they
produce.

Benefits
No other energy generating
technology holds the combination of
benefits
that fuel cells offer
Energy Security : Abundant Source
Supply Security : Efficient, modular and fuel
flexible
Physical security : resources evenly distributed in
nature
High Reliability
High quality power
High Efficiency as high as 85%
ENVORONMANTALLY FRIENDLY

Energy Security
Being efficient, modular and fuel flexible, fuel cells can enable a
transition to a secure, renewable energy future, based on the use of
hydrogen.
A fuel cell system that includes a "fuel reformer" can utilize the
hydrogen from any hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel - natural gas, ethanol,
methanol, propane, and even gasoline or diesel.
Hydrogen can also be produced from electricity from conventional,
nuclear or renewable sources.
Hydrogen can be extracted from novel feed stocks such as landfill gas
or anaerobic digester gas from wastewater treatment plants, from
biomass technologies, or from hydrogen compounds containing no
carbon, such as ammonia or borohydride.
Fuel cells and Electrolysis, in combination with solar or wind power, or
any renewable source of electricity offer the promise of a totally zeroemission energy system that requires no fossil fuel and is not limited
by variations in sunlight or wind flow.
This hydrogen can
supply energy for power needs and for
transportation.

High Reliability
Fuel cells can be configured to provide backup
power to a grid-connected customer, if the grid
fail.
They can be configured to provide completely gridindependent power.
They can also use the grid as the backup system.
Modular installation (several identical units to
provide a desired quantity of electricity) provides
extremely high reliability .
In specialized applications, fuel cells can achieve
up to 99.9999% reliability, less than one minute of
down time in a six year period.

High Quality and Efficiency

Fuel cells offer high quality power,
crucial to an economy that depends
on increasingly sensitive computers,
medical equipment and machines.
High Efficiency as they make energy
electrochemically, and do not burn
fuel.
Fuel cells are fundamentally more
efficient than combustion systems.

Environmental Benefits
Air pollution continues to be a primary health
concern in the industrialized world.
Exposure to ozone, particulate, or airborne
toxic chemicals has substantial health
consequences.
Scientists are now directly linking air pollution
to heart disease, asthma and cancer.
Recent health studies suggest polluted urban
air is a comparable health threat to passive
smoking.

Fuel cells can reduce pollution today and

offer the promise of eliminating pollution
tomorrow

Hydrogen - Tomorrow
Storage

Production

Use

Innovative Tank
Designs

Bio-mass &
Electrolysis

Fuel for FUEL CELLS

Hydrogen production for

Future
Solar powered
Electrolysis

Photoelectrochemical

Algal Production