Hydrogen and

Fuel Cell
technology
 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technology
1. What is a Fuel Cell?
2. How do Fuel Cells works?
3. Different types of Fuel Cell
4. Hydrogen energy
5. Hydrogen Fuel Cells
6. Transportation
7. Summary
8. References
 What is a Fuel Cell?
A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by
a chemical reaction. Every fuel cell has two
electrodes called, respectively, the anode and
cathode. The reactions that produce electricity take
place at the electrodes.
Every fuel cell also has an electrolyte, which
carries electrically charged particles from one
electrode to the other, and a catalyst, which speeds
the reactions at the electrodes.
 How do Fuel Cells works?
The purpose of a fuel cell is to produce an electrical
current that can be directed outside the cell to do work,
such as powering an electric motor or illuminating a
light bulb or a city. Because of the way electricity
behaves, this current returns to the fuel cell,
completing an electrical circuit. The chemical
reactions that produce this current are the key to how a
fuel cell works.
There are several kinds of fuel cells, and each operates a bit differently.
 Inessence, a fuel cell consists of three adjacent segments, namely, the anode,
electrolyte, and cathode. When hydrogen undergoes an oxidation reaction at
the anode (), it generates cations that migrate to the cathode through the
electrolyte and free electrons that flow the external circuit. Contrarily, a
reduction reaction occurs at the cathode, where oxygen is reduced to water by
the cations and electrons (Ralph et al., 1998). The electrochemical reaction
that occurs at the cathode is

The electrolyte plays a key role. It must permit only the appropriate ions to pass
between the anode and cathode. If free electrons or other substances could travel
through the electrolyte, they would disrupt the chemical reaction.
Whether they combine at anode or cathode, together hydrogen and oxygen form
water, which drains from the cell. As long as a fuel cell is supplied with
hydrogen and oxygen, it will generate electricity.
Different types of Fuel Cell
  Based on the type of electrolyte used, fuel cells can be categorized
into alkaline fuel cells (AFCs), PEMFCs, phosphoric acid fuel cells
(PAFCs),molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs), and solid oxide fuel
cells(SOFCs).And the classification and characteristics of fuel cells
are listed in Table 1. The electrolytes of AFCs are KOH with serving
as mobile ions under lower oxygen reduction over potential and
lower operating temperature (20∼80◦C). The mobile ions of
PEMFCs are with the operating temperature from−40◦C to 90◦C, air
and oxygen can be the oxidants in the cathode. PAFCs and MCFCs
are utilized in power station for its large output range.
 Ceramic materials, like, served
as electrolyte during the operation of
SOFCs under high temperature
(600∼1000◦C). Fuel cells can be used in
different scenes based on the required
power output scale. The distinctive
advantages of rapid start-up time, wild
range operating temperature (−40 – 90◦C),
high specific energy have made PEMFC
stand out from all types fuel cell and wildly be used in fuel
cell vehicles and stationary applications. The typical structure of a
PEMFC is illustrated in Fig.6 and the detailed explanation of these
components and related researches are introduced in following
parts. Additionally, water management and thermal management
are the key issues of PEMFC.
 Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only
one proton and one electron. It’s also the most plentiful element in the
universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen doesn’t occur
naturally as a gas on the Earth – it’s always combined with other
elements. Water, for example, is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen
(H2O).
Hydrogen is also found in many organic compounds, notably
the hydrocarbons that make up many of our fuels, such as gasoline,
natural gas, methanol, and propane. Hydrogen can be separated from
hydrocarbons through the application of heat – a process known
as reforming. Currently, most hydrogen is made this way from
natural gas. An electrical current can also be used to separate
water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is
known as electrolysis. Some algae and bacteria, using sunlight as
their energy source, even give off hydrogen under certain conditions.
Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an
engine that burns pure hydrogen
produces almost no pollution. NASA
has used liquid hydrogen since the
1970s to propel the space shuttle and
other rockets into orbit.

Hydrogen fuel cells power the shuttle’s electrical

systems, producing a clean by product – pure
water, which the crew drinks.
 Hydrogen Fuel Cells
A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Fuel
cells are often compared to batteries. Both convert the energy produced by a chemical
reaction into usable electric power. However, the fuel cell will produce electricity as
long as fuel (hydrogen) is supplied, never
losing its charge
Fuels like natural gas, methanol, or even
gasoline can be reformed to produce the
hydrogen required for fuel cells. Some
fuel cells even can be fueled directly
with methanol, without using a reformer.
In the future, hydrogen could also join
electricity as an important energy
carrier.
 Transportation
Fuel Cell buses
Fuel cell buses. Fuel cell buses in particular have
attracted significant attention and are relatively
mature, at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7.84
On-board tanks typically hold around 40 kg of
hydrogen stored in the bus roof,48 and reduced space
restrictions mean this can be stored at 350 bar,
reducing tank and compression costs. Fuel cell buses
may have a 10–20% higher total cost of ownership
(TCO) than diesel by 2030, and could be cheaper if
deployed at scale. Fuel cell buses have seen substantial
early deployment, with 7 million kilometres of
Europe
operational has 83 so
experience operating fuel cell buses, with 44 in North America.Toyota is planning
far in Europe.
to introduce over 100 fuel cell buses before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
China has the world’s largest bus market, with
300 fuel cell buses ordered for Foshan City
(quadrupling the global fleet of hydrogen
powered buses).For context, Shenzhen City
has electrified its entire fleet of over 16 000
buses using BEVs.Good progress is being
made with longevity, with four London buses
operating more than 18 000 hours.Ten buses in
California have passed 12 000 hours of
operation with one reaching 22 400 hours:
close to the DOE’s ultimate target of 25 000
hours. Fuel cell bus availability has exceeded
90% in Europe (versus an 85% target), with
refuelling station availability averaging 95%.
 Trucks
Trucks show considerable potential for fuel cell
adoption as high energy requirements mean few low-emission alternatives exist.
Light goods vehicles with short low-speed journeys could be managed with batteries
and range-extender vehicles; however, long-haul heavy vehicles which require high
utilisation are likely to require hydrogen.
Competition from batteries is nonetheless
increasing, with the Tesla Semi expected to
offer 300–500 mile range for B$200 000.Cost
parity of fuel cell trucks with other low-carbon
alternatives could be achieved with relatively
low manufacturing volumes.7 Return to base
delivery vehicles could see lower fuel costs with
a single refuelling depot, although long-range HGVs need an adequate refuelling
network.
Motorbikes

Two-wheeled vehicles are dominant for

passenger transport in many regions.
Intelligent Energy has developed a 4 kW fuel
cell system in cooperation with Suzuki,48 now
being trialled in the UK.100 Their low fuel
consumption allows them to be refuelled using
hydrogen canisters from vending machines.
FCEV motorbikes could contribute toward air
quality and noise pollution targets.
 Trains
Electrification can replace diesel trains but progress has slowed recently across Europe.Hydrogen
trains could be used on routes which are difficult or uneconomic to electrify due to route length
or lack of space in urban areas. A fuel-cell powered train with roof-mounted hydrogen tanks and
a range of 500 miles has begun testing in Germany, and 40 trains could be in service by 2020.
Alstom announced plans to convert a fleet of trains in the UK from electric to hydrogen to negate
the need for line electrification and meet the government target of eliminating diesel trains by
2040. Light rail also presents opportunities for hydrogen, with fuel cell-powered trams being
developed and operated in China. Low volumes mean that hydrogen trains are expected to use
the same stacks and storage tanks as buses and trucks, so cost reductions will be consolidated
with the automotive sector. Hydrogen powertrains may be 50% more expensive than diesel, but
economic viability will depend on lower-cost fuel, and hydrogen costing under $7 per kg. One
study concludes that FCEV trains are already cost
competitive with diesel trains from a TCO
perspective.
 Airplanes
Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, and reducing emissions from aircraft
propulsion has seen little progress. In 2016 the International Civil Aviation Organization
agreed to cap aviation emissions at 2020 levels, but primarily through carbon offsetting rather
than low-emission fuels. Some hybrid electric concepts are being studied, though emission
reductions will be limited.108 Biofuels could be suitable due to their higher energy density
than hydrogen or batteries, but are not completely emission-free and could remain costly with
limited availability. Hydrogen could be used as a propulsion fuel, but needs to be liquefied to
supply the required range. Combustion turbines are likely to be needed as fuel cells lack the
power required for take-off. However the climate benefits of hydrogen for aviation have been
questioned because it produces more than
double the water vapour emissions of
kerosene; water vapour at high altitudes,
although short lived in the atmosphere,
causes radiative forcing and thus contributes
to net warming.
 Cars
Like all-electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use electricity to power an
electric motor. In contrast to other electric vehicles, FCEVs produce electricity using
a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from only a battery.
During the vehicle design process, the vehicle manufacturer defines the power of the
vehicle by the size of the electric motor(s) that receives electric power from the
appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination. Although automakers could
design an FCEV with plug-in capabilities to charge the battery, most FCEVs today use
the battery for recapturing braking energy, providing extra power during short
acceleration events, and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell with the
option to idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs. The amount of energy
stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank. This is different
from an all-electric vehicle, where the amount of power and energy available are both
closely related to the battery's size. Learn more about fuel cell electric vehicles.
 Summary
Countries should develop a system of policy support for hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies that offers the long-term stability needed for large, transformative
investments to be made. Policy reviews, decision points and milestones in a support
programme should be announced well in advance,
with ongoing support conditional on meeting
reasonable performance and cost targets. Given such
sustained support, and the technological progress in
hydrogen and fuel cells in recent years, there are
strong grounds for believing that hydrogen and fuel
cells can experience a cost and performance
trajectory similar to those of solar PV and batteries,
and in the medium term provide another important
and complementary
low-carbon option with versatility to be deployed in multiple uses across
the energy system.
 REFERENCES
1. https://
www.linde-engineering.com/en/plant-components/hydrogen-refueling-technologies/index.html
2. https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-technology-basics
3. https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/types-of-renewable-energy/hydrogen/#gref
4. https://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm
5. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2019/ee/c8ee01157e
6. https://
www.cnbc.com/2019/02/21/musk-calls-hydrogen-fuel-cells-stupid-but-tech-may-threaten-tesla.html
7. https://
reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2352484721006053?token=23889189B021FA665BCD8FAFB0
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