MEE5089

FUELCELLTECHNOLOGY

Chapter1
Introduction to Fuel Cells

CourseInstructor:Dr.C.OzgurColpan

Dokuz Eylul University

 PreliminaryRemarks

Majorengineeringdisciplinesinvolvedinfundamentalfuelcellscience.
 PreliminaryRemarks
Benefits offuel cells:
Apotentialforarelativelyhighoperatingefficiency,
scalabletoallsizepower plants.
Ifhydrogenisusedasfuel,pollutionemissionsare
strictlyaresultoftheproduction processofthe
hydrogen.
Nomovingparts, withthesignificantexceptionof
pumps,compressors,andblowers todrivefueland
oxidizer.
Multiplechoicesofpotentialfuelfeedstocks,from
existingpetroleum,naturalgas, orcoalreservesto
renewableethanolorbiomasshydrogenproduction.
 PreliminaryRemarks
Challanges with fuel cell development:
Alternative materialsandconstruction methods
mustbedevelopedtoreducefuelcell systemcostto
becompetitivewiththeautomotivecombustion
engine andstationarypowergenerationsystems.
Suitablereliabilityanddurabilitymustbeachieved.
Suitablesystempowerdensityandspecificpower
mustbeachieved.
Fuelstorage,generation,anddeliverytechnology
mustbeadvancedifpurehydrogen istobeused.
 Fuel Cells vs Heat Engines

A combustionengineconvertsthechemicalenergyofthefuel
andoxidizerinto mechanicalwork(i.e.,itmovessomemass
throughspace)
A fuelcellconvertsthe sameinitialchemicalenergydirectlyinto
electricalwork(i.e.,itmoveselectronsthrougha resistance).
 Fuel Cells vs Batteries
Inthesimplestanalogy
possible,afuel cellis
similartoabattery,
exceptwithconstant
flowofoxidizerand
fuel.
Fuel cellsare
advantageousthan
batteriesintermsof
weightandsizewhen
theyaredesignedto
operateforlonger
operationtime.
MainComponentsofaSingle Fuel Cell

A:Anode current collector

B:Anode flow channels
C:Anode Electrode
E:Electrolyte
F:Cathode Electrode
G:Cathode flow channels
H:Cathode current collector
C+E+F:Electrode/Electrolyte Assembly
 OperatingPrinciples
Separate liquid orgasphasefuelandoxidizerstreams
enterthroughflowchannels.
Reactantsaretransportedbydiffusionand/or
convection totheelectrodes,whereelectrochemical
reactionstakeplace to generate current.
Somefuelcellshaveaporous layerbetween the
electrodeandcurrentcollectingplates thatfunctions
totransport electronsandspeciestoandfromthe
electrodesurface.
Ionsareconductedfromoneelectrodetotheother
throughelectrolyte
Electronsarecycledviaanexternalload.
 OperatingPrinciples

The basic principle of operation of a PEM fuel cell. (Barbir, 2013)

 Current Collector/Bipolar
Plate/Interconnect
Forasinglecell,componentAinthe figure is
knownastheanodiccurrentcollector when
theflowisafuel.
Inanormalstackarrangement,wherethe
anodecurrentcollectoris alsothecathode
currentcollectorontheopposingside,thisis
alsoknownasabipolarplate orcell
interconnect,sinceitconnectstheanodeand
cathodeofadjacentcellsinseries.
 Current Collector/Bipolar
Plate/Interconnect
The currentcollectorfunctionsasfollows:
1.ConductselectronsfromanodeBtotheexternalcircuit
ortotheadjacentcathode inastack.
2.Deliversfuel(liquidorgas)flowthroughtheflow
channelslabeledB.Thefuel diffusesorconvects tothe
anodeelectrodeC,wherefueloxidationoccurs.
3.Providesstructuralintegrityofstack(inmost,butnot
all,designs).
4.Dissipatewasteheatgeneratedbyinefficienciesofthe
reactiontoconstant,often withacoolantflowthrough
thecurrentcollector.
 Current Collector/Bipolar
Plate/Interconnect
Examplesofvariousflowfielddesigns.
 Electrode
Theanodecontainsathinregion ofcatalystthat
greatlyfacilitatestheelectrochemicalreaction.This
regionisoftenreferred toasthecatalystlayer.
Thebasicfunctionsoftheanode catalystlayerareto
1.Enablethefueloxidationreactionviaacatalyst.
2.Conductionsfromthereactionsitetotheelectrolyte
regionD.
3.Conductelectronsfromthereactionsitetotheanode
currentcollectorA.
4.Facilitatereactanttransportandproductremovaltoand
fromthecatalystlocations.
 Electrode
Thecatalystlayer
musthavehighelectrical
andionicconductivity.
istheonlyinterfacewith
reactant,catalyst, and
ionandelectron
conductorsthatenables
areaction.

TransmissionelectronmicrographofPEFC
catalystlayer
 Electrode
Thereis high relative
porosityofthislayer,
typicallyaround40to
70%formostfuelcells.
Thereaction inthishighly
porousstructuredepends
onthesimultaneous
presenceofreactant,
catalyst,an ionic
conductor witha
continuouspath tothe
mainelectrolyte,andan
electronicconductor with
acontinuouspathtothe
currentcollector.
 Electrode
Thehighlyporousnatureoftheelectrodesisto
maximizetheconceptofa triplephaseboundary
wherereactioncanoccurbetween
(1)theopenporeforthereactant,
(2)thecatalyst,and
(3)theionicconductor.
Increasingthetriplephaseboundary(TPB) within
theporouselectrodestructureleadstoincreased
reactionsitedensityforagiven superficial
electrodeareaandthereforeresultsinahigher
performanceelectrode.
 Electrode
Lowtemperature fuelcellstypicallymust
utilizeexpensivenoblemetalcatalystssuchas
platinum.
Sincehighertemperaturesmorereadily
enableelectrochemicalreaction,less
expensivecatalystssuchasnickel canbe
utilizedfor hightemperaturefuelcellssuchas
theSOFCorMCFC.
 Electrode
Severalvarietiesoffuelcellsuse
anelectronconductingporous
diffusion media asaninterface
betweenthecatalystlayerand
thecurrentcollectors.
PEFCsuseacarbonbased porous
mediaforthispurpose.Eithera
wovencarbonclothora carbon
fiberstructurebondedwitha
graphitizedthermosetresinis
typicallyusedforthis purpose.
Scanningelectronmicroscopeimagesof
(a)wovencarbonclothand
(b) nonwovencarbonpaper
 Electrolyte
Theelectrolyteinafuelcellhasthreemain
purposes:
1.Tophysicallyseparatethereactants.
2.Toconductthechargecarryingionsfromone
electrodetotheother.
3.Topreventelectronicconductionbetweenthe
anodeandcathode.
 Fuel CellStack
Combinationofmanysinglecellstoproduce
thedesiredpoweroutput
Generallydonebyconnectingsinglecellsinseries
usingbipolarplates which formsairandfuelflow
channelsandconductselectrons
 Sealing
Theelectrolyteisgenerally made largerthan
oneorbothof theelectrodes
Asealinggasketisfitted aroundeachelectrode
 Manifolds
Thefuelandoxidant issuppliedtotheelectrodesusing
themanifolds
External manifolding:
Difficult tocoolthesystem
theelectrodesisnotevenlypresseddown leakage problem
 Manifolds
Internal manifolding:
Amorecomplexbipolarplateallowsreactantgasesto
befed toelectrodesthroughinternaltubes.
Stack Flow Configurations
Auxiliary Componentsfor Fuel Cells
Othercomponentsnecessaryforfuelcellsystem
operationincludesubsystems forfuelandoxidizer
delivery (pumps,blowers,heat exchangers,etc.),
voltageregulationandelectroniccontrol,fueland
possibly oxidizerstorage,fuel recirculation and
consumption,and stacktemperaturecontrol.
Abatteryisoftenused toinitiatereactant
pumps/blowersduringstartup.
Inmanyfuelcellsoperatingat hightemperature,a
preheatingsystemisusedtoraisecelltemperatures
duringstartup. Thiscanbeaccomplishedwitha
combustionchamberthatburnsfuelandoxidizer gases.
Classification ofFuel Cells

26
 ProtonExchangeMembraneFuelCell
Reactions: (PEMFC)
Anode:
Cathode:
Overall:
Advantages:
Fast startup capability since it works
at low temperatures.
Compact since thin MEAs can be
made.
No corrosive fluid hazards because Source:http://www.fctec.com

the only liquid present in the cell is

water.
Disadvantages:
The need for expensive catalysts 27
 ProtonExchangeMembraneFuelCell
COPoisoning (PEMFC)(Contd)
IfareformedfuelisenteringthePEMFC,thereisgenerallysomeamountofCOinthisfuel
producedfromsteamreformingreaction.
Evenafterwatergasshiftreaction,thereislittleamountofCOleft.(~0.250.5%)
COoccupiesplatinumcatalystsites.Hence,itpreventsthehydrogenfueltoreachthe
catalyst.
ExperiencesuggeststhattheCOlevelsinthefuelgasstreamshouldbe10ppm orlessnot
tohaveCOpoisoningproblem.

Source:Oetjenetal.,1996 28
 ProtonExchangeMembraneFuelCell
(PEMFC)(Contd)
WaterManagementProblem
Theprotonconductivity ofthe
electrolyteisdirectly
proportionaltothewater
content.
Highenoughwater contentis
necessarytoavoidmembrane
dehydration.
Contrarily,lowenoughwater
shouldbepresentinthe
electrolytetoavoidflooding
theelectrodes. Source:Kraytsberg and Ein-Eli, 2006

Hence,thereshouldbea
balance betweenthe
productionofwaterby
oxidationofthehydrogenand
itsevaporation. 29
 DirectMethanolFuelCell(DMFC)
Reactions:
Anode:
Cathode:
Overall:
Advantages:
Methanol is a readily available
and low cost liquid fuel
High energy density of methanol
Simple to use and very quick to
refill
Disadvantages: Source:http://www.chemelab.ucsd.edu
The slow reaction kinetics of the
methanol oxidation, which results
in a lower power for a given size
30
 DirectMethanolFuelCell(DMFC)
MethanolCrossoverProblem
Polymermembrane ofDMFCispermeableto
methanol whichmeansitmaydiffusefrom
theanodethroughtheelectrolytetothe
cathode.
Migratedfuel iswasted whichdecreasesthe
amountofelectronproduced.Italsoreduces
thecellvoltage,hencethecellperformance.
Thecurrentapproachtominimizingthe
methanolpermeationrateistolimitthe
methanolconcentration toapproximately5
wt% despitethelossinperformance.
31
 DirectMethanolFuelCell(DMFC)
Air(Oxygen)
Activetype:
Fuelandairflowsare
Coolingfan Stack controlledtogethigh
Water performance
Pump Circulating
Fuel Higheroperating
Cartridge temp.(~70C)
Methanol& Stacktype
waterdiluting
system Highpower
products,suchas
laptops
Air(Oxygen) Passivetype:
Theairisintroducedintothecellbynaturalflow
Operatedatroomtemperature
Unitcell
NeatMethanol
Smallandlowpowerproductssuchas
32
fuelcellpoweredmp3player.
 DirectMethanolFuelCell(DMFC)
Product (Contd)
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
Output 100 milliwatts
W22 x L56 x H4.5mm (thinnest) or H9.1mm
Size
(fuel tank)
8.5 g including 2cc of methanol fuel inside
Total Weight
the tank
Fuel Tank Size 2cc
Fuel Methanol (99.5 percent concentration)
Continuous 20 hours with 2cc methanol (full tank)
Operation
Features - Passive fuel supply system
- Simple structure that requires no pump or
fan
- Use high concentration of methanol
- Small fuel tank
Source:Toshiba(2005)
33
 DirectBorohydride FuelCell(DBFC)
Reactions:
Anode:
Cathode:
Overall:
Advantages:
It is very simple to make it as the
electrolyte and the fuel are mixed.
Highly alkaline fuel and waste borax
prevents the fuel cell from CO2
poisoning.
Source:Lietal.(2003)
Disadvantages:
Hydrolysis reaction at which
hydrogen is produced as NaBH4
reacts with water. 34
 SolidOxideFuelCell(SOFC)
Reactions:
Anode:

Cathode:
Overall:

Advantages:
Fuel flexibility: Fuel such as methane, propane, butane,
JP-8 may be used as fuel.
Direct reforming at the anode catalyst.
No need for precious metal electrocatalysts.
Integration with other systems (e.g. gas turbine)
Disadvantages:
Challenges for construction and durability due to its high
temperature
Carbon deposition problem 35
 DirectFormicAcidFuelCell(DFAFC)
Reactions:
Anode:
Cathode:
Overall:

Advantages:
Formic acid is abundant in nature: ants,
feces.
High catalytic activity
Easier water management
Minimal balance of plant

Disadvantages:
Performance of the cell strongly
depends on the feed concentration of
formic acid due to mass transport
limitations
Source:Masel (2005)

36
 DirectEthanolFuelCell(DEFC)
Reactions:
Anode:
Cathode:
Overall:

Advantages:
Ethanol has high energy density
Safer to use
Easy to store

Disadvantages:
Acetaldehyde is produced which is a very flammable
and harmful liquid
Reaction kinetics is very slow
Ethanol crossover is a problem
37
 Biofuel cell(BFC)
BFC may be used in very low power
applications.
Mainly, there are two classes of
BFC which are Microbial Fuel Cell
and Enzymatic Fuel Cell.
Microbial Fuel Cell has higher
efficiency and complete oxidation of
fuel; but lower power density.
Hence, it is more applicable for
larger scale applications such as
generating power on the seafloor.
Source:Halme,2004

Enzymatic Fuel Cell has high power

density but lower efficiency and
incomplete oxidation of fuel. It may
be used in small scale application
such as implantable devices.
38
ApplicationAreasforFuelCells
 ApplicationAreasforFuelCells
Nicheapplicationsarethemainmarketarea
forportablefuelcells,whichincludelaptops,
mobilephones,camcorders,digitalcameras,
portablegenerators forcampingandother
recreationalactivities,batterychargers,etc
Thenewdeviceshavegreaterfunctionalities
andbatteriescannotprovidetheenergyfora
longtime.
Fuelcellscanenabletheuniversalconnectivity
ofwirelessdevices,suchaslaptopcomputers
and3Gphones
DMFC isthemostpromisingtype.

40
ApplicationAreasforFuelCells

41
 ApplicationAreasforFuelCells
Military Applications
Soldiers power demand:
10-15 W (average power)
30-40 W (peak power)
400 Wh/day
The future soldiers are intended to have equipment needing
high power such as night vision devices, global positioning
systems, target designators, climate controlled body suits
and digital communication systems.
These equipment should be light and operate for a long
time.
Sensor power (0100 W), and auxiliary power units or
APUs (0.510 kW)
Fuel that is available in the battle area in any part of the
world such as diesel and JP-8 is preferred.
SOFC is the most promising option.
42
 ApplicationAreasforFuelCells

TransportationApplications
PEMFCismainlyused
SOFCandDMFCforspecificapplications
SOFC Auxiliarypowerunitforluxury
automobiles
DMFC Golfcars,unmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)

43
 ApplicationAreasforFuelCells
StationaryPowerandHeatApplications
SOFCandMoltenCarbonateFuelCell(MCFC)
arethemostpromisingbecauseoftheirhigh
operatingtemperature.
Canbeintegratedwithgasturbine,steamturbine,
gasificationsystem,etc.

44
 History ofFuel CellDevelopment
In1839,SirWilliamGrove
conductedthefirstknown
demonstrationofthefuelcell
Itoperatedwithseparate
platinumelectrodesin
oxygenandhydrogengas,
submergedina dilute
sulfuricacidelectrolyte
solution, essentially
reversingawater
electrolysis reaction.
History ofFuel CellDevelopment
Characteristics ofHydrogen

Source:Spiegel(2007)
 Hydrogen Production
Hydrogendoesnotexistinitsnaturalformon
earth;therefore,itmustbeproduced throughone
ofvariousways:
thesteamreformingofnaturalgas,

thegasificationofcoal,
electrolysis, or
thereforming/oxidationofother hydrocarbonsor
biomass.
 Hydrogen Storage
Pressurized hydrogentanks
Liquidhydrogen storage
Metalhydride storage
Novel hydrogen storage