FUEL CELL

By. Anand Singh (2018CH10196)

1
INTRODUCTION

• Electrochemical devices convert fuel into electrical energy

• Highly efficient and environment friendly

• Unlike batteries, the power generation in Fuel Cells are continuous and thus requiring
a continuous source.

• Energy is produced by spontaneous redox reaction (generally hydrogen as a reductant,

and ambient air as the oxidant)

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HISTORY

• In 1800, Willian Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle used electricity

to break water into components.

• In 1839, William Grove first demonstrated the fuel cell called the

device a “Gas Battery”.

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COMPONENTS

4
WORKING MECHANISM

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WORKING MECHANISM

• Reactions involved:

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TYPES
• Fuel cells are of various types but works almost alike.

• Fuel cells are categorised based on the design aspects:

• - The electrolyte (defines the type)

• - The fuel used

• - Anode and Cathode properties

TYPES
• Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

• Phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC)

• Solid acid fuel cell (SAFC)

• Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)

• High-temperature fuel cells

PEMFCs

• Operates at low temperature

• Uses water based acidic polymer membrane

and platinum electrodes

PAFCs

• PAFC stands for phosphoric acid fuel cell

• uses liquid phosphoric acid as an electrolyte

•They operate at comparatively higher temperature than PEMFCs

•Comparatively less efficient

• CO poisoning is less
SAFCs

• Solid Acid Fuel Cells uses solid acid material as the electrolyte

•As temperature rises (~140-150 ℃ for CsHSO4), solid undergoes phase transition to

become highly disordered - “superotonic” increase conductivity.

• More efficient cooling and higher tolerance to catalyst poisoning.

AFCs

• Alkaline Fuel Cell, also known as Bacon fuel cell

•Use pure hydrogen and oxygen

•Used in NASA, APOLLO series mission.

•Electrolyte used - KOH with porous graphite electrodes.

• ~80 - 100℃ gives a fast start.

HIGH-TEMP. FUEL CELLS

• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) - commonly used ceramic material - YSZ( 

yttria-stabilized zirconia), entirely solid

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells(MCFCs) – uses Lithium Potassium Carbonate

salt as electrolyte.
COMPARISON b/w DIFF. FCs
APPLICATIONS

• Portable Power

• Backup Power

• Transportation

• - Automobiles

• - Buses
APPLICATIONS
• 1. Portable Power

•- Light weight, long lasting

•- can be used when power charging source is not available like in military
applications

•- other applications: laptops, cellular phones, power tools, battery chargers

• 2. Backup Power

•- Used when primary source is disrupted

APPLICATIONS
• 3. Transportation:

• - Automobiles:
Low or almost zero emission
Uses compressed hydrogen gas

• - Buses:
Low or almost zero emission
Hydrogen can also be stored on-board buses easily because of the available
Already in use in many cities like British Columbia, Amsterdam, California

• - utility vehicles:
Low cost
Lower downtime
Reduced maintenance and extended range
APPLICATIONS
• 4. Stationary Power Applications:

• - To provide supplementary power

• - grid independent generators for on-site service

• - used as emergency power system

• - Used in UPS

• - almost all kind of fuel cells can be used.

LIMITATIONS

• Expensive

• Extraction of Hydrogen cause pollution

• Fuel cells are mostly operated at High temperature and cooling is required and

thus heat is wasted.

• Storage and transport of hydrogen is difficult.

•Hydrogen filling stations rare.

CONCLUSION

• Fuel Cell technology has not ripen well yet. However in the future we

can see more utility of Fuel Cells with improvement in

•- Storage

•- engine design

•- Public safety
REFRENCES
1. A.J. Appleby, F.R. Foulkes, Fuel Cell Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York,
NY, 1989.

2. www.utcfuelcells.com.

3. www.fuelcellenergy.com.

4. Information supplied by ERC for the Fuel Cell Handbook.

5. E.W. Hall, W.C. Riley, G.J. Sandelli, "PC25™ Product and Manufacturing
Experience," IFC, Fuel Cell Seminar, November 1996.

6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/fuel-cell-reaction