FUEL CELLS

What is a fuel cell?

• A fuel cell is a galvanic cell in which the chemical energy
of a fuel is converted directly into electrical energy by
means of electrochemical processes.
• The fuel and oxidizing agents are continuously and
separately supplied to the two electrodes of the cell,
where they undergo a reaction.
• An electrolyte is necessary to conduct the ions from one
electrode to the other.
• The fuel is supplied to the anode or positive electrode,
where electrons are released from the fuel under catalyst.
• Principally To convert the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen
into water, and in the process it produces electricity
Difference from a Battery
• Battery the other electrochemical device that we are all familiar.
A battery has all of its chemicals stored inside, and it converts
those chemicals into electricity too.
This means that a battery eventually "goes dead" and you either
throw it away or recharge it
Difference from an Engin
In a fuel cell
• Chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead.
As long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity
flows out of the cell.
• Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the
chemicals
• Fuel Cells generate electricity through an electrochemical
process
In which the energy stored in a fuel is converted directly into
DC electricity.
• Because electrical energy is generated without combusting fuel,
Fuel cells are extremely attractive from an environmental stand
point
Parts of a Fuel cell
• Anode- Negative post of the fuel cell, Conducts electrons
freed from hydrogen molecules to be used in external
circuits. Etched channels disperse hydrogen gas over the
surface of the catalyst
• Cathode- Positive post of the fuel cell, etched channels
distribute oxygen to the surface of the catalyst.
Recombine with hydrogen ions to form water
• Electrolyte- Exchange membrane, specially treated
material
• Catalyst- Facilitates the reaction, usually platinum powder
How does it work?
The attractive option- Why?
• High energy conversion efficiency
• Modular design
• Very low chemical and acoustical pollution
• Fuel flexibility
• Cogeneration capability
• Rapid load response
Types of Fuel cell
• Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
• Direct methanol fuel cells
• Alkaline fuel cells
• Phosphoric acid fuel cells
• Molten carbonate fuel cells
• Solid oxide fuel cells
• Reversible fuel cells
COMMERCIAL FUEL CELL USE
COMMERICAL FUEL CELL USE
INTEGRATED HOME BASED ENERGY
SYSTEM
Fuel cell for transportation
A functioning cell
in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stack
How SOFC works?
• It consists of three components - a cathode, an anode, and
an electrolyte sandwiched between the two.
• Oxygen from the air flows through the cathode
• A fuel gas containing hydrogen, such as methane, flows
past the anode.
Negatively charged oxygen ions migrate through the
electrolyte membrane react with the hydrogen to form
water,
• The reacts with
the methane fuel
to form hydrogen (H2) &
carbon dioxide (CO2).
• This electrochemical reaction generates electrons,
which flow from the anode to an external load and
back to the cathode,
a final step that both completes the circuit and
supplies electric power.
• To increase voltage output, several fuel cells are
stacked together to form the heart of a clean power
generator.
PEMFC
Developed in US by NASA for
space exploration.
Contains proton conducting
membrane sandwiched between
2 platinum impregnated porous
electrodes.
Teflon gaskets and current
collectors are added to complete
the fuel cell structure.
Membranes are basically
fluorocarbon polymer based
structure to which sulphonic acid
groups are attached.
Protons are free to travel
PEMFC Working
Hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode
where it dissassociates into Hydrogen
atoms in the presence of platinum
catalyst.
The atoms further splits to protons and
electrons which travel in separate ways
from the anode to cathode.
Protons are conducted through the
electrolyte membrane, the electrons
are forced to go via, the external circuit
to the cathode to produce electricity
Oxygen is supplied to the cathode
where a reduction process occurs and
water and heat are created as by-
products.
All fuel cells have the same basic
operating principle.
⚫ An input fuel is catalytically reacted
(electrons removed from the fuel elements)
in the fuel cell to create an electric current.
• Fuel cells consist of an electrolyte material which is sandwiched
in between two thin electrodes (porous anode and cathode).
• The input fuel passes over the anode (and oxygen over the
cathode) where it catalytically splits into ions and electrons.
• The electrons go through an external circuit to serve an electric
load while the ions move through the electrolyte toward the
oppositely charged electrode.
• At the electrode, ions combine to create by-products, primarily
water and CO2. Depending on the input fuel and electrolyte,
different chemical reactions will occur.