NON CONVENTIONAL
ENERGY RESOURCES
Fuel cell
BASICS OF FUEL
CELL
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INTRODUCTION
• Fuel cell is a device that converts directly
the chemical energy stored in gaseous
molecules of fuel and oxidant into
electrical energy.
• When the fuel is hydrogen the only
byproducts are pure water and heat.
• The overall process is the reverse of water
electrolysis.
• In electrolysis, an electric current applied
to water produces hydrogen and oxygen,
• In fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are
combined to produce electricity and water.
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HYDROGEN FUEL CELL
Working
• Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
• The hydrogen reacts with oxygen across an electrochemical cell similar to that of a
battery to produce electricity, water, and small amounts of heat.
• Hydrogen is stored in a pressurized container and oxygen is taken from the air.
• In a fuel cell is two electrodes separated by an electrolyte.
• The anode (negative electrode) receives hydrogen and the cathode (positive
electrode) collects oxygen.
• A catalyst at the anode separates hydrogen into positively charged hydrogen ions
and electrons.
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SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELL.
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MAIN PARTS
• In Anode Hydrogen oxidized and
• The main components of a fuel cell
converted into Hydrogen ion and
are:
electron.
• Fuel ( hydrogen)
• Oxidant ( Air)
• Electrodes • The electrolyte is restricted to
• Electrolyte ( proton Exchange negative charge.
membrane)
• The positive hydrogen ions move
• Fuel always supplied through the towards cathode through electrolyte
Anode and oxidant supplied through and electron flow through the outer
the cathode. circuit.
• Platinum is used as catalyst. • In cathode oxygen combine with
hydrogen ions and electrons and
produce water. ( reduction Reaction)
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CH
A
RTILE
TYPES OF FUEL CELL
• Fuel cell types are generally classified according to
the nature of the electrolyte they use.
• Each type requires particular materials and fuels
and is suitable for different applications.
• Based on the electrolyte fuels cells are classified
into:
• Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
(PEM FC)
• Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC)
• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC)
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)
• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell – MCFC
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COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT FUEL CELLS
Operating
Type Fuel Electrolyte Applicatio
Catalyst temperatur
n
e
Polymer Portable power,
1 PEMFC Hydrogen Platinum 50-100 C
membrane transportation
Hydrogen Military, Space
2 AFC KOH Nickel 90-100
applications
Stationary
power
Hydrogen generation
3 PAFC Phosphoric Acid Platinum 150-200
from 100-400
kW, Large
vehicles
Solid ceramic, such
as stabilized Nickel Auxiliary power
4 SOFC Hydrocarbon 700-1000
Zirconium oxide generation
Solution of
Industrial
Lithium,
Nickel applications,
5 MCFC Hydrocarbon Sodium or 600-700
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Potassium
Advantages Disadvantages
• No pollution, only byproduct is • Fueling fuel cells is still a major
water. problem since the production,
transportation, distribution and
• Fuel cells have a higher efficiency storage of hydrogen is difficult.
than diesel or gas engines.
• The refueling and the starting time
• Low temperature fuel cells (PEM, of fuel cell vehicles are longer and
DMFC) have low heat transmission the driving range is shorter than in a
which makes them ideal for military ―normal car.
applications.
• Fuel cells are currently very
• The maintenance of fuel cells is expensive to produce, since most
simple since there are few moving units are hand-made
parts in the system.
• The technology is not yet fully
• The power densities are high. developed and few products are
available.
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