Phosphoric acid fuel cell

Cathode reaction: O(g) + 4H+ + 4e 2HO

Overall cell reaction: 2 H + O 2HO

3 Advantages and disadvantages

At an operating range of 150 to 200 C, the expelled
water can be converted to steam for air and water heating (combined heat and power). This potentially allows
eciency increases of up to 70%.[2] PAFCs are CO2 tolerant and even can tolerate a CO concentration of
about 1.5 percent, which broadens the choice of fuels they
can use. If gasoline is used, the sulfur must be removed.[3]
At lower temperatures phosphoric acid is a poor ionic
conductor, and CO poisoning of the platinum electrocatalyst in the anode becomes severe.[4] However, they
are much less sensitive to CO than PEFCs and AFCs.
Disadvantages include rather low power density and aggressive electrolyte.

4 Applications
Scheme of a phosphoric-acid fuel cell

Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) are a type of fuel cell

that uses liquid phosphoric acid as an electrolyte. They
were the rst fuel cells to be commercialized. Developed
in the mid-1960s and eld-tested since the 1970s, they
have improved signicantly in stability, performance, and
cost. Such characteristics have made the PAFC a good
candidate for early stationary applications.[1]

Design
PureCell System 400 CEP

Electrolyte is highly concentrated or pure liquid phosphoric acid (H3 PO4 ) saturated in a silicon carbide maPAFC have been used for stationary power generators
trix (SiC). Operating range is about 150 to 210 C. The
with output in the 100 kW to 400 kW range and they are
electrodes are made of carbon paper coated with a nely
also nding application in large vehicles such as buses.[5]
dispersed platinum catalyst.
Major manufacturers of PAFC technology include
ClearEdge Power (formerly UTC Power[6] ) and Fuji
Electric. Indias DRDO is developing PAFC for air in2 Electrode reactions
dependent propulsion in their Scorpne class submarines,
and the Indian Navy have requested a fully engineered
Anode reaction: 2H 4H+ + 4e
system by 2014.[7]
1

See also
Glossary of fuel cell terms

References

[1] http://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/types-fuel-cells#
phosphoric
[2] Fuel Cells
[3] Fuel Cells 2000 : Fuel Cell Basics : Types
[4]
[5] Fuel Cell Today - Home Page
[6] ClearEdge Power Media Room
[7] Anandan, S. (30 December 2010). DRDO working on
system to cut submarine vulnerability. The Hindu.

External links
National Pollutant Inventory - Phosphoric acid fact
sheet
UTC Power Ocial Site
Photo Gallery of Fuel Cells Being Used Today
Cox Communications Installs Fuel Cells in California
D.O.E. -PAFC
Fuel Cell Basics
Alternative Energy Magazine
Supermarket Benets From 400kW Fuel Cell
Stationary Fuel Cells at Retail and Grocery Sites

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

Text

Phosphoric acid fuel cell Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric%20acid%20fuel%20cell?oldid=634556176 Contributors:

Boy b, Alan Liefting, Rick Block, DemonThing, Chowbok, Rhobite, Etnoy, Vortexrealm, Kjkolb, Orzetto, Ffbond, Gene Nygaard, Lmatt,
Wavelength, Bovineone, JHCaueld, SmackBot, Papep, Chris the speller, Polonium, Mion, Aussie Alchemist, Beetstra, CRGreathouse,
Thijs!bot, FaerieInGrey, Grimlock, Skier Dude, SieBot, Jimstudt, DumZiBoT, Addbot, AnomieBOT, Runeuser, Materialscientist, FrescoBot, Hariehkr, Alex117234, GoingBatty, Dannsuk, Mountainninja, DrunkSquirrel, WillidaUTC, Rck5130 and Anonymous: 19

8.2

Images

File:Fcell_diagram_pafc.gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Fcell_diagram_pafc.gif License: Public domain Contributors: From http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/fc_types.html

Original artist: U.S. Department of Energy, USA.gov
File:PureCell_System_400_CEP.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/PureCell_System_400_CEP.jpg
License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: WillidaUTC
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original: Johann Dro (talk contribs)

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