Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Presentation on Fuel Cell Course code: CHEM 101

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Abrar Yasir Abir
Lecturer Dept. of Textile
Email - abir@tex.green.edu.bd
Green University Of Bangladesh
1. Tanvir siam – 212901006
2. Abdullah Al Adel – 212902001
3. Md Mehedi Hasan Rasel – 213901033
4. Diponker Chandra Paul – 213901024
5. Amir Ahonaf 213901010

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Table of Content:
 What is Fuel Cell
 History of fuel Cell
 Parts of fuel Cell
 Types of Fuel Cell I
 Types of Fuel Cell II
 Mechanism of fuel cell
 Classification
 Alkaline Fuel Cell
 Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
 Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
 Advantage of Fuel Cell
 Disadvantage of Fuel Cell
 How can be Fuel Cell Used
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What is Fuel Cell:
 A cell capable of generation electricity by converting chemical energy to the fuel
directly into electrical energy.
 In simple words it is a electrochemical device which converts chemical energy
into electric energy.

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History of fuel Cell:
 It was first demonstrate by a British scientist Sir William Robert Grove in 1839.
 First practical fuel cell was demonstrated by Francis T. Bacin and J.C frost of
Cambridge University in 1959

Parts of fuel Cell:

1. Anode
2. Cathode
3. Catalyst
4. Electrolyte

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Types of Fuel Cell I
 Alkaline (AFC) developed for the Apollo program
 Phosphoric acid (PAFC) 200kW units commercially available for combined heat
and power (CHP)
 Molten carbonate (MCFC) and solid oxide (SOFC) can work directly with
hydrocarbon fuels – 200+kW demonstration units

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Types of Fuel Cell II

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Mechanism of fuel cell :
 A fuel cell consists of two electronics – anode & cathode.
 Hydrogen and Oxygen are fed into the cell.
 Catalyst at anode causes hydrogen atoms to give up electrons leaving positively
charged protons.
 Oxygen ions at cathode side attract the hydrogen.
 Protons pass through electrolyte membrane.
 Electrons are redirected to cathode through external circuit.
 Thus producing the electric current.

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Classification:
 Fuel cells can be classified based of various criteria given bellow:
1. Based on temperature range in which they operate –
 Low temperature 25 -100 Degree Celsius
 Medium temperature 100 - 500 Degree Celsius
 High temperature 500 – 1000 Degree Celsius
 Very High temperature above 1000 Degree Celsius
2. Based on the physical state of fuel:
Gas : hydrogen , lower hydrocarbons
Solid: metals etc.
3. Based on the type of electrons:
Aqueous
Non – Aqueous
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Solid \ molten
Alkaline Fuel Cell
 This type of fuel cell was been introduce in the early 1060’s. As the electrolyte
used for this device is aqueous alkaline solution like potassium hydroxide, the
procedure for electricity consumpation is rather expensive.
It has;
 Compressed hydrogen and oxygen fuel.
 Potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte.
 ~70% efficiency.
 150 degree Celsius – 200 degree Celsius operation temp.
 300W to 5kW output requires pure hydrogen fuel and platinum catalyst.

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Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
 Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) are a type of fuel cell that uses liquid phosphoric as a
electrolyte. They were the first fuel cells to be commercialized.
 They are used in hospitals, nursing homes and for a commercial purposes.
 Electrolyte: Liquid Phosphoric acid
 Catalyst: platinum
 Electrical efficiency of 40%
 Advantages: using impure hydrogen as fuel and 85% of the steam can be used for
congeneration.

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Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
 Molten carbonate fuel cell promises high fuel-to-electricity efficiency and the ability to
utilize coal based fuels
 It uses an electrolyte composed of a molten carbonate salt mixture.
 It require carbon dioxide and oxygen to be delivered to the cathode.
 Operates at extremely high temperature 1200 degrees.
 Primarily targeted for use as electric utility applications.
 It have been operated on hydrogen ,carbon monoxide, natural gas ,propane, landfill gas,
marine diesel and simulated coal gasification products.
 Discharge emf of the cell is 0.8 volt.

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Because of the extreme high temperature, non-precious metals can be used as catalysts at the
anode and cathode which helps reduces cost.
Disadvantage is durability ,the temperature required and the corrosive electrolyte accelerate
breakdown and corrosion inside the fuel cell.

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Advantage of Fuel Cell
 They can be installed near the use point, thereby reducing the transmission losses.
 They have few mechanical components, so less attention and maintenance is required.
 Atmospheric pollution is negligible if the primary energy source is hydrogen.
 As fuel cells don’t make noise ,they can be installed in residential areas.
 The fuel cell takes little time to go under operation.
 Space required by fuel cell in considerably less compared to other convenient methods.

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Disadvantage of Fuel Cell
 Main disadvantage of fuel cell Is its high initial cost.
 Fuel cell has low service life.
 If hydrocarbon is the energy source in fuel cell then it emits carbon dioxide and
no longer a green source.
 It is comparatively expensive.
 It is difficult to handle pure hydrogen.

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How can be Fuel Cell Used:
 On transportation.
 Stationary Power Station.
 Telecommunications.
 On household works.
etc…

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Question & Answer
Section

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Thank you