Fuel cell

Introduction
A fuel cell configuration
Types of fuel cell
Principle, construction and working
Advantage, disadvantage and application
Introduction
What is fuel cell?
A Fuel cell is a electrochemical device that converts
chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy
• Every fuel cell has two electrodes, one positive and one
negative, called, respectively, the cathode and anode. The
reactions that produce electricity take place at the
electrodes
• In all types of fuel cell, hydrogen is used as fuel and can be
obtained from any source of hydrocarbon.
• The fuel cell transform hydrogen and oxygen into electric
power, emitting water as their only waste product.
• Every fuel cell also has an electrolyte, which carries
electrically charged particles from one electrode to the
other, and a catalyst, which speeds the reactions at the
electrodes.
• A single fuel cell generates a tiny amount of direct current
(DC) electricity.
• A converter is used to produce AC current
• In practice, many fuel cells are usually assembled into a
stack. Cell or stack, the principles are the same.
• In 1932, Francis Bacon developed the first successful
FC. He used hydrogen, oxygen, an alkaline electrolyte,
and nickel electrodes.
 A fuel cell configuration

A fuel cell consists of two

(+) (-)
electrodes namely an anode
and a cathode and
sandwiched around an
electrolyte.
An electrolyte is a substance,
solid or liquid, capable of
conducting oving ions from
one electrode to other. Anode Cathode
Electrolyte
Types of fuel cells

There are diffrent types of fuel cells, differentiated by the

type of electrolyte separating the hydrogen from the
oxygen. The types of fuel cells are:

• Alkaline fuel cells (AFC)

• Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)
• Molten carbonate fuel cell (MFFC)
• Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC)
• Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)
• Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)
 Types of Fuel Cells
Fuel Cell Operating Conditions
Alkaline FC (AFC) Operates at room temp. to 80 0C
Apollo fuel cell
Proton Exchange Operates best at 60-90 0C
Membrane FC (PEMFC) Hydrogen fuel
Originally developed by GE for space
Phosphoric Acid FC (PAFC) Operates best at ~200 0C
Hydrogen fuel
Stationary energy storage device
Molten Carbonate FC (MCFC) Operates best at 550 0C
Nickel catalysts, ceramic separator membrane
Hydrocarbon fuels reformed in situ
Solid Oxide FC (SOFC) Operates at 900 0C
Conducting ceramic oxide electrodes
Hydrocarbon fuels reformed in situ
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Operates best at 60-90 0C
(DMFC) Methanol Fuel
For portable electronic devices
Summary of Reactions and Processes in Various
Fuel Cells
Principle, construction and working of H2-O2 fuel cell
Principle:
Electrons
The fuel is oxidized (e-)
on the anode and oxidant
reduced on the cathode.
One species of ions are
Cations
transported from one (+ve)
electrode to the other
through the electrolyte to Anions (-
Oxidant
combine there with their Fue ve)
l
counterparts, while electrons Electrolyte
travel through the external Fuel Oxidant
circuit producing the Permeable Permeable
electrical current. Anode Cathode
Working
The Fuel gas (hydrogen rich) is passed towards the anode
where the following oxidation reaction occurs:

H2 (g) = 2H+ + 2e-

The liberated electrons from hydrogen in anode side do not
migrate through electrolyte.

Therefore, they passes through the external circuit where work

is performed, then finally goes into the cathode.

On the other hand, the positive hydrogen ions (H+) migrate

across the electrolyte towards the cathode.
At the cathode side the hydrogen atom reacts with oxygen
gas (from air) and electrons to form water as byproduct
according to:

The overall cell reaction is

fuel + oxidant product + Heat

H2 + 1/2 O2 +2e - H2O + Heat

The liberated electrons from the hydrogen are responsible for
the production of electricity.
The water is produced by the combination of hydrogen, oxygen
and liberated electrons and is sent out from the cell.
The DC current produced by fuel cell is later converted into AC
current using an inverter for practical application.
The voltage developed in a single fuel cell various from 0.7 to
1.4 volt.
More power can be obtained by arranging the individual fuel cell
as a stack. In this case, each single cell is sandwiched with one
another by a interconnect.
Therefore, electricity power ranging from 1 kW to 200 kW can be
obtained for domestic as well as industrial application.
 Advantage, disadvantage and applications

Advantages
• Zero Emissions: a fuel cell vehicle emits water vapour.
Therefore, no air pollution occurs.

• High efficiency: Fuel cells convert chemical energy

directly into electricity without the combustion process.
As a result, Fuel cells can achieve high efficiencies in
energy conversion.

• High power density: A high power density allows fuel

cells to be relatively compact source of electric power,
beneficial in application with space constraints.
• Quiet operation: Fuel cells can be used in residential or
built-up areas where the noise pollution can be avoided.

• No recharge: Fuel cell systems do not require recharging.

Disadvantages

• It is difficult to manufacture and stores a high pure hydrogen

• It is very expense as compared to battery

Applications

1. Portable applications
• They used in portable appliances and power tools
• They can be used in small personal vehicles
• They are used Consumer electronics like laptops, cell
phones can be operated
• They can be used in Backup power
Transportation applications

• They can be used for transport application in the following

areas,
• Industrial transportation
• Public transportation
• Commercial transportation (truck, tractors)
• Marine and Military transportation
 Power distribution application

• Fuel cells can be used for the distribution of power in

various fields such as,
• Homes and small businesses
• Commercial and industrial sites
• Remote, off-grid locations (telecom towers, weather
stations)