PRESENTED BY :

SANTOSH KUMAR SHARMA KARTHIK .C

(03561A0349) (03E01A0312)
(SYED HASHIM CST) (NIZAM INST. OF TECH.)
Sansharma_349@yahoo.com carey_dd@yahoo.com

SVITS(JKC)
Current technological world is in need for a most efficient way of running our vehicles
with zero pollution emissions. The present paper is an approach to the research being
done on fuel cells till date. The paper provides the ways of hydrogen production – the
main source for FUEL CELL working. Different types of FUEL CELLS have been listed.
Among them POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE (PEM) which is the current
focus of research all over the world for it’s usage in vehicles is the main focus of this
paper. The parts, working and working conditions of POLYMER ELECTROLYTE
MEMBRANE (PEM) is provided in the form of illustrations. The PEM fuel cell stack
working setup of a car has been illustrated. The PROS and CONS of PEM fuel cell usage
are mentioned.
INTRODUCTION :

The growing demand for high efficiency, compact, low cost, pollution free energy
deriving systems is surpassing the capabilities of present day gas turbine in ones city’s
power plant, the gasoline engine in ones car and the battery in one laptop. Also currently
used energy deriving systems have less efficiency and the main problem they are
undergoing is pollution. That is why scientists have been trying to improve FUEL
CELLS, a concept that time forgot. The usage of FUEL CELLS has its roots in US space
program during 1960’s. The research on FUEL CELLS has enabled it into an emerging
technology for hydrogen economy and to revolutionize the way we power our nation,
offering cleaner, more efficient alternatives to the combustion of gasoline and other fossil
fuels. Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles
and provide power in stationary and portable power applications because they are energy-
efficient, clean and fuel-flexible.

WHAT IS FUEL CELL ?

A FUEL CELL is a device which uses the chemical energy of HYDROGEN (main
source for fuel cell) to produce electricity and water, cleanly and efficiently. Fuel cells
works like a battery but does not run down or need recharging. Fuel cells are unique in
terms of the variety of potential applications; they can provide energy for systems as
large as a utility power station and as small as a smoke detector.

WHERE DOES HYDROGEN COME FROM ?

HYDROGEN, the main source of fuel cell can be obtained by
 ELECTROLYSIS, which uses electric current to split water into hydrogen at the
cathode and oxygen at anode.
 PHOTOCHEMICAL systems, which use semi-conducting materials
(like photovoltaics) to split water using sunlight.
 THERMOCHEMICAL water splitting, which uses chemicals and heat in multiple
steps to split water into its component parts.
TYPES OF FUEL CELLS :

Based on the kind of electrolyte they employ :

 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell
 Direct methanol fuel cell
 Alkaline fuel cell
 Phosphoric acid fuel cell
 Molten carbonate fuel cell
 Solid oxide fuel cell
 Regenerative fuel cell
Among the above types of fuel cells Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is
the current focus of research for fuel cell vehicle applications all over the world.

POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE (PEM) FUEL CELLS :

 Also known as Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell
 The three key layers in a PEM FUEL CELL :
1. Membrane electrode assembly
2. Catalyst
3. Hardware

MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY :

The electrodes (anode and cathode), catalyst and
polymer electrolyte membrane together form the
membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a PEM fuel
cell

 ANODE
 Negative side of fuel cell
 Conducts the electrons that are free from the hydrogen molecules so that they can
be used in electrical circuit
  Channels etched into the anode disperse the hydrogen gas equally over the surface
of catalyst

 CATHODE
 Positive side of fuel cell
 Conducts electrons back from the external circuit to the catalyst, where they can
recombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to form water
 Contains channels that distribute the oxygen to the surface of the catalyst.

 POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE

 Key to fuel cell technology
 Conducts only positive charged ions and blocks the electrons

CATALYST
 Electrochemical reactions in a fuel cell consists of two separate reactions: an
oxidation half-reaction at the anode and a reduction half-reaction at the
cathode
 Reactions occurs slow at low operating temperature
 So each of the electrodes is coated on one side with a catalyst layer that speeds
up the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen.
 Catalyst made of platinum powder very thinly coated onto carbon paper
 Catalyst is rough and porous so that maximum surface of the platinum can be
exposed to the hydrogen or oxygen
 Platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces the PEM

HARDWARE
 Backing layers, flow fields and current collectors are designed to maximize the
current from a membrane/electrode assembly
 Backing layers one next to cathode, the other next to anode – are usually made of
porous carbon paper about as thick as 4 to 12 sheets of paper and coated with
 TEFLON to ensure that at least some and preferably most, of the pores in the
carbon cloth do not become clogged with water
 Porous nature ensures effective diffusion of each reactant gas to the catalyst on
the membrane/electrode assembly.
 Also helps in managing water in the fuel cell; too much or too little water can
cause cell to stop working
 Pressed against each backing layer is a piece of hardware called a BIPOLAR
PLATE that works as both flow field and current collector
 Plates are made of a lightweight, strong, gas-impermeable, electron conducting
material-graphite

WORKING OF PEM :
 PERFLUOROSULPHONIC ACID POLYMER as the electrolyte which has good
proton conducting properties contained between two platinum impregnated
porous electrodes
 Back of the electrodes coated with TEFLON
 Within the cell, H2 at the anode provides proton
and releases electrons which pass through the
external circuit to reach the cathode
 The protons solvate with water molecules and
diffuse through the membrane to the cathode to
react with the O2 while picking up electrons and
forming water.
 Operating temperature : 80 degree c

ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION

Chemistry
of a Fuel Cell
Anode side:
2H2 => 4H+ + 4e-

Cathode side:
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- => 2H2O

Net reaction:
2H2 + O2 => 2H2O
POLYMER ELECTROLYE MEMBRANE IN AUTOMOBILE

 PEM fuel cells designed for use in vehicles produce less than 1.16 volts of
electricity-far from enough to power a vehicle.
 Therefore multiple cells must be assembled into a fuel cell stack.
 The potential power generated by a fuel cell stack depends on the number and size
of the fuel cells that comprise the stack and the surface area of the PEM.
 The hydrogen can be stored on board either in CYLINDERS or using on board
REFORMERS which convert hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen.

ADVANTAGES :
  It may be operated at high current densities resulting in a cell that has a fast start
capability, compact and light weight design.
 No corrosive fluid spillage hazard because the only liquid present in the cell is
water.
 Has high energy conversion efficiency (fuel bound energy to electricity), about
40-47%.
 Deliver hauling power or torque.
 Emit lower emissions than Internal Combustion engine vehicles.
 Refueling is easier .

DISADVANTAGES :
 PEM fuel cells are very expensive.
 Hydrogen production, transportation and onboard storage in cylinders is difficult.
 Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires a low hydrogen to air concentration.

CONCLUSION :

Therefore fuel cell is considered to be a potential technology for solving the fossil fuel
crisis of the future. What ever research has been done on fuel cells is just a drop in the
ocean. To make fuel cells available to common man a lot of attention is required from
research communities , government organizations, industries and policy makers. We can
only hope that fuel cells bring renaissance in the future.

REFERENCES :
• http://www.eere.energy.gov
• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/aero.shtml
• http://www.fuelcellworks.com