INTRODUCTION TO

FUEL CELLS

PRANESH.M
III-RD BSC PHYSICS
 WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?
• First fuel cell was invented in 1838 by William
Grove.
• A fuel cell is a electrochemical cell that converts
potential energy from a fuel into electricity
through an electro chemical reaction of hydrogen
fuel with oxygen (or) other oxidizing agent.
• Fuel cells may be many types but they are made
up of three segments,
• Anode , Electrolyte,& Cathode .
PICTURE 1 PICTURE 2

PIC 1 : MODEL CONSTRUCTED BY WILLIAM GROOVE

PIC 2: DEMONSTRATION MODEL OF FUEL CELL
 DESIGN OF THE FUEL CELLS
• The Electrolyte substance defines
the types of fuel cell like potassium
hydroxide, salt carbonates,
&phosphoric acid.
• The most common fuel is Hydrogen.
• The Anode is a fine platinum powder breaks down the
fuel into electrons & ions.
• The Cathode is often nickel converts ions into waste
and water is the common waste.
• These layers are designed to resist oxidation.
 FUNCTIONING OF FUEL CELLS
• A fuel cell can produce a voltage of 0.6 V to 0.7 V
at full rated load.
• Voltage gets decreases as current gets increases
due to factors like,
• Activation loss
• Ohmic loss (voltage drop due to resistance)
• To deliver desired energy fuel cell can be
combined in series for high voltage & parallel for
high current.
 TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
• PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL
• PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELL
• SOLID ACID FUEL CELL
• ALKALINE FUEL CELL
• HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
• ELECTRIC STORAGE FUEL CELLS
 ADVANTAGES OF FUEL CELLS

• High efficiency with most of fuel cells are 60%-

80% efficient
• Clean fuel with no hazardous emissions
• Eco-friendly fuel
• By products : Electricity, heat, & water
 APPLICATIONS
• POWER with 97% less nitrogen oxide.
• CO-GENERATION ( 40% electric+60% thermal)
• Fuel cell powered vehicles
• Submarines
• UPS