Fuel Cells

FUEL CELL DG
• Fuel cells are static energy conversion devices that convert the
chemical energy of fuel directly into dc electrical energy.
• Fuel cells have a wide variety of potential applications including
micropower, auxiliary power, transportation, stationary power
for buildings, and cogeneration applications.

• A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by a chemical

reaction.
• Every fuel cell has two electrodes, one positive and one
negative, called, respectively, the anode and cathode.
• The reactions that produce electricity take place at the
electrodes.

Thermodynamic laws; Nernst Equation; Carnot Cycle

Fuel Cells Converts Chemical Energy Into
Electricity Contained In The Fuel

• Fuel cells convert chemical energy contained in a fuel

(hydrogen, natural gas, methanol, gasoline, etc.) directly
into electrical power. By avoiding the intermediate step of
converting fuel energy first into heat, which is then used
to create mechanical motion and finally electrical power,
fuel cell efficiency is not constrained by the Carnot limits
of heat engines (Fig.)
• Fuel-to-electric power efficiencies as high as 65% are
likely, which gives fuel cells the potential to be roughly
twice as efficient as the average central power station
operating today.
Conversion of chemical energy to electricity in a
fuel cell is not limited by the Carnot efficiency
constraints of heat engines.
 High efficiency….

• Fuel cells have other properties besides high efficiency that make
them especially appealing. The usual combustion products (SOx,
particulates, CO, and various unburned or partially burned
hydrocarbons) are not emitted, although there may be some thermal
NOx when fuel cells operate at high temperatures.

• They are vibration-free and almost silent, which, when coupled with
their lack of emissions, means they can be located very close to their
loads—for example, in the basement of a building.
Basic structure
Major processes in a generic FC energy system

• Voltage and power control of a FC system can be achieved

through proper control of the power-conditioning unit.
• Therefore, accurate models of FC power plants and the power
electronic devices are necessary to evaluate the coordination
between the two, and for controller design.
 TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
• Fuel cells are generally classified by the type of electrolyte they use,
and the choice of electrolyte dictates the range of their operating
temperature and the degree of fuel processing required.
• Low-temperature fuel cells are generally limited to temperatures
below or around 200°C because high-temperature vapor causes
rapid degradation of their electrolyte material.
• The most common type of low-temperature fuel cells are alkaline
fuel cell (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and polymer
electrolyte membrane (PEMFC).
• In these fuel cells all the fuel must be converted to hydrogen prior
to entering the fuel cell.
• In addition, the catalyst used in these fuel cells (mainly platinum) is
strongly poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO).
• Therefore, the hydrogen entering these fuel cells needs to be pure.
• This is a downside of the low-temperature fuel cells
• In high-temperature fuel cells, CO and even hydrocarbons (e.g.,
CH4) can be internally converted to hydrogen or even directly
oxidized.
• The most common types of high-temperature fuel cells are molten
carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) with operating temperature range of
600-700°C, and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating in the
temperature range of 600-1000° C.
• In addition to the above types of fuel cells, there is another category
of fuel cells, which can utilize non-hydrogen fuels directly without
internal or external reforming process.
• Two common types in this category are direct methanol fuel cell
(DMFC) and direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC)
• The different types of fuel cells have slightly different chemical
reactions, but the same electrochemical reaction is the backbone of
all of them.
• Because of the differences in their operating characteristics and fuel
used, different types of fuel cells are suited for different applications.
 Types of Fuel Cell
Among different types of fuel cells, following types show great
potential in DG applications
polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC),
solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC),
molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC).
PEMFC and SOFC also show great potential in transportation
applications.
Compared with conventional power plants, these FCDG systems have
many advantages such as high efficiency, zero, or low emission (of
pollutant gases) and flexible modular structure. FCDGs can be
strategically placed at any site in a power system (normally at the
distribution level) for grid reinforcement, deferring or eliminating the
need for system upgrades, and improving system integrity, reliability,
and efficiency.
Applications using H2-based FCs and FC vehicles (FCVs) has gain market
share in competition with conventional power generation sources and
transportation vehicles.
 Hydrogen Production

The various technologies that can be used to produce hydrogen

include
 H2 production by reforming natural gas.
 Conversion of coal to H2.
 Use of nuclear energy (NE) to produce H2.
 Electrolysis of water using electricity from the grid, or electricity
produced from solar and/or wind energy.
 H2 production from biomass.