Government Engineering

College, Bharuch
Energy Technology

Chapter 10 - Fuel Cell

Submitted by:-
Patel Axitkumar R. (160140105031)
Patel Himani (160140105032)
Patel Jaykumar B. (160140105033)
Patel Jigarkumar R. (160140105034)
Patel Mayankkumar M. (160140105036)
 Introduction
• A cell capable of generating an electric current by converting the
chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy
• The fuel cell is similar to other electric cells in the respect that it
consist of positive and negative electrodes with an electrolyte
between them.
• Fuel in a suitable form is supplied to the negative electrode and
oxygen, often from air to the positive electrode.
• When the cell operates, the fuel is oxidised and the chemical reaction
provides the energy that is converted into electricity.
• Fuel cells differ from conventional electric cells in the respect that the
active materials are not contained within the cell but are supplied
from outside.
• Main use of fuel cells are in power production, automobile vehicles
and in special military use.
 Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell
• As stated these are electro-chemical devices in which the chemical
energy of fuel is converted directly into electric energy.
• The chemical energy is the free energy of the reactants used. This
conversion takes place at a constant temperature & pressure.
• The basic feature of the cell is that the fuel and its oxidant are
combined in the forms of ions rather than neutral molecules.
• Main types of fuel cells are:
1. Hydrogen fuel cell
2. Hydrarine fuel cell
3. Hydrocarbon fuel cell
4. Alcohol fuel cell
• The main component of fuel cell are a fuel electrode, an oxidant or air
electrode, an electrolyte
• In the most fuel cell, hydrogen is active material at the negative
electrode and oxygen is active at positive electrode.
• Hydrogen and oxygen are gases, a fuel cell requires a solid electrical
conductor to serve as a current collector and to provide a terminal at
each electrode. The solid electrode material is generally porous.
• Porous nickel electrodes and porous carbon electrode are generally used
in fuel cell for commercial applications.
• The best chemical catalyst are finely divided platinum or platinum like
metals deposited on or incorporated with the porous electrode material.
• Hydrogen gas is supplied to one electrode and oxygen gas to other,
between the electrodes is a layer of electrolyte.
• Most existing fuel cell operate as temp below about 200 °C. The
electrolyte is the usually and aqueous solution of an alkali or acid.
• The liq. Electrolyte is generally retained in a porous membrane, but it
may be free flowing in some cells. Different electric current in drawn
from the cell in the usual manner by connecting between the
electrode terminals.
• The electro chemical reaction occurring at the electrodes of a H2-O2
cell may very with the nature of the electrolyte, but basically the are
as follows.
• H2 --> 2 e- + 2H+
• At this electrode, hydrogen is diffused through the permeable nickel
in which is embedded a catalyst. The catalyst enables the H2
absorbed on the electrode surface as hydrogen atoms, which react
with the OH in the electrolyte to from H2O.
• When the cell is operating and producing current the electrons flow
through the external load to the positive electrode.
• The hydrogen and hydroxyl ions then combine in the electrolyte to
produce water.
• H+ + OH- =H2O
• The overall process is the chemical combination of hydrogen and
oxygen to form H2O that is.
• Tue H2 electrode accumulates a surface layer of negative charges.
These attract potassium ions of electrolyte, providing an electrical
double layer.
• The loss of electrons from the oxygen electrode results in a layer of
positive changes,which is turn attracts hydroxyl ions from electrolyte.
The magnitude of this end is 1.23 volt at 1 atm anfld 25°C.
• The electrons can now leave the epwctodes pass through the
connecting circuit to the oxygen electrodes and take part in the
reaction of equation above.
• This movement of electrons constitutes a current passing through an
external load.
• In this way useful electrical work is obtained directly from the
chemical process.
TYPES OF FUEL CELL
On the basis of the electrolyte used the fuel cell can be classified as follows
1. Alkaline Fuel Cell - alkaline solution eletrolite such as KOH.
2. Phosphoric Acid Fuel cells(PAFC)- electrolyte is phosphoric acid.
3. Solid Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell- electrolyte is polymer electrolyte
membrane fuel cells and their electrolyte consists of proton exchange
membrane.
4. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell- electrolyte as molten carbonate.
5. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells(SOFC)- electrolyte is ceramic ion conducting electrolyte
in solid oxide form.
6. Regerative Fuel Cell.
ALKALINE FUEL CELL
• This is one of the oldest design for fuel cells; the United States space program has
used them since the 1960s.
•The AFC is very susceptible to contamination, so it requires pure hydrogen and
oxygen. It is also very expansive, so this type of fuel cell is unlikely to be
commercialised.
•They are among the most efficient fuel cell, having the potential to reach 70%
•The electrolyte used is aqueous potessium hydroxide(KOH). The electrolyte act as
a medium for conduction of ions in between the electrodes.
•Porus and catalysed graphite electrode.
•Semipermeable, Teflon coated carbon material.
•Heavily Catalysed.
PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELL
•The phosphoric acid fuel cell has potential for use in small stationary
power-generation system.
•It operate at a higher temperature then polymer exchange membrane
fuel cell so it has a longer warm- up time.
•This makes it unsuitable for use in cars.
•Eletrodes: porous carbon containing Pt or it alloysas catalysts.
•Eletrolyte: liquid phosphoric acid in Teflon-bonded silicon carbide
matrix.
•Operating rang is about 150 to 210°C.
SOLID PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL
CELL
•High power density.
•Retively low operating temperature (ranging from 60 to 80°C, or 140 to 176°F).
•The low operating temperature means that it does not take very long for the fuel cell to
warm up and begin generating electricity.
•PEMFCs are built out of membrane electrode assemblies(MEA) which included the
electrodes, electrolyte, catalyst, and gas diffusion layers.
•An ink of catalyst, Carbon, and electrode are sprayed or painted into the solid electrolyte
and Carbon paper is hot pressed on either side to protect the inside of the cell and also act
as electrodes.
•The pivotal part of the cell is the triple phase boundary (TPB) where the electrolyte,
catalyst, and reactants mix and thus where the cell reactions actually occur. Importantly,
the membrane must not be electrically conductive so the half reactions do not mix.
 WORKING
• To function, the membrane must conduct hydrogen ions (protons) but not electrons
as this would in effect "short circuit" the fuel cell.
• The membrane must also not allow either gas to pass to the other side of the cell, a
problem known as gas crossover. Finally, the membrane must be resistant to the
reducing environment at the cathode as well as the oxidative environment at the
anode.
• Splitting of the hydrogen molecule is relatively easy by using a platinum catalyst.
Unfortunately however, splitting the oxygen molecule is more difficult, and this
causes significant electric losses.
• An appropriate catalyst material for this process has not been discovered, and
platinum is the best option.
• A cheaper alternative to platinum is Cerium(IV) oxide.