2.2.

4 Factors that Affect The Work of Fuel Cell

Variables, such as temperature, pressure, and gas constituents, on fuel cell performance needs
to be assessed to predict how the cells interact with the power plant system supporting it.
Understanding of the impact of these variables allows system analysis studies to "engineer" a
specific fuel cell application. From Figure1, it can be seen that the fuel cell itself has many
trade-off options. A fundamental trade-off is determining where along the current density
voltage curve the cell should operate. As the operating point moves up in voltage by moving
(left) to a lower current density, the system becomes more efficient but requires a greater fuel
cell area to produce the same amount of power. That is, by moving up the voltage current
density line, the system will experience lower operating costs at the expense of higher capital
costs. Many other parameters can be varied simultaneously to achieve the desired operating
point. Some of the significant fuel cell parameters that can be varied are pressure,
temperature, fuel composition and utilization, and oxidant composition and utilization. The
system design team has a fair amount of freedom to manipulate design parameters until the
best combination of variables meeting the design requirements is found.

Figure 1. Optimization Flexibility in a Fuel Cell Power System

Pressurization

Fuel cell pressurization is typical of many optimization issues, in that there are many
interrelated factors that can complicate the question of whether to pressurize the fuel cell
operation. Pressurization increases the performance of the fuel cell and system at the cost of
providing the pressurization. Pressurizing small systems is not practical, as the cost of the
associated equipment outweighs the performance gains.

Temperature

Although the open circuit voltage decreases with increasing temperature, the performance at
operating current densities increases with increasing temperature due to reduced mass
transfer polarizations and ohmic losses. The increased temperature also yields a higher
quality rejected heat stream. The temperatures at which the various fuel cells can operate are,
however, limited by material constraints. However, a high temperature of approximately

1000C (1830F), i.e., the present operating temperature, is required in order to have
sufficiently high ionic conductivities with the existing materials and configurations

Utilizations

Both fuel and oxidant utilizations involve trade-offs with respect to the optimum utilization
for a given system. High utilizations are considered desirable (particularly in smaller
systems) because they minimize the required fuel and oxidant flow, for a minimum fuel cost
and compressor/blower load and size. However, utilizations that are pushed too high result in
significant voltage drops. One study cites that low utilizations can be advantageous in large
fuel cell power cycles with efficient bottoming cycles because the low utilization improves
the performance of the fuel cell and makes more heat available to the bottoming cycle. Like
almost all design parameters, the selection of optimum utilizations requires an engineering
trade-off that considers the specifics of each case.
o Fuel Utilization
High fuel utilization is desirable in small power systems, because in such systems the fuel
cell is usually the sole power source. However, because the complete utilization of the fuel is
not practical and other requirements for fuel exist, the selection of the utilization represents a
balance between other fuel/heat requirements and the impact of utilization on the overall
performance. the designer has the ability to increase the overall utilization of fuel (or the
oxidant) by recycling a portion of the spent stream back to the inlet. This increases the overall
utilization while maintaining a lower per pass utilization of reactants within the fuel cell to
ensure good cell performance. The disadvantage of recycling is the increased auxiliary power
and capital cost of the high temperature recycle fan or blower. The low fuel utilization
decreases the percentage of power from the fuel cell while increasing the fuel cell
performance.

Oxidant Utilization

In addition to the obvious trade-off between cell performance and compressor or blower
auxiliary power, oxidant flows and utilizations in the cell often are determined by other
design objectives. For example, in the MCFC and SOFC cells, the oxidant flow is determined
by the required cooling. This tends to yield oxidant utilizations that are fairly low (~25%).

Heat Recovery

Although fuel cells are not heat engines, heat is still produced and must be removed in a fuel
cell power system. Depending upon the size of the system, the temperature of the available
heat, and the requirements of the particular site, this thermal energy can be either rejected,
used to produce steam or hot water, or converted to electricity via a gas turbine or steam
bottoming cycle or some combination thereof.

Humidifacation/Dehumidifacation

Water often is added or removed in fuel cell systems to promote or prevent certain chemical
reactions. For some reactions, an excess of water can help to drive the reaction, while too
much requires larger equipment and can even reduce the yield of a reaction or decrease the

performance of a fuel cell. Excess water often is utilized to increase the yield of reforming
reactions and the water gas shift. Maintaining the proper quantity of water within a PEFC is
very important for proper operation. Too much, and the cell will flood; too little, and the cell
membrane will dehydrate. Both will severely degrade cell performance. The proper balance is
achieved only by considering water production, evaporation, and humidification levels of the
reactant gases. Achieving the proper level of humidification is also important. With too much
humidification, the reactant gases will be diluted with a corresponding drop in performance.
The required humidification level is a complex function of the cell temperature, pressure,
reactant feed rates, and current density. Optimum PEFC performance is achieved with a fully
saturated, yet unflooded membrane
2.3 Kind of Fuel Cell Used (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell)

Figure 2. Fuel Cell Schematic

The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell operates at relatively low temperatures
(about 175 degrees F or 80 degrees C), have high power density, and can vary their output
quickly to meet shifts in power demand. The proton exchange membrane is a thin plastic
sheet that allows hydrogen ions to pass through it. The membrane is coated on both sides
with highly dispersed metal catalysts (usually platinum). The electrolyte used is a solid
organic polymer poly-perflourosulfonic acid. The solid electrolyte is an advantage because it
reduces corrosion and management problems. This type of fuel cell is, however, sensitive to
fuel impurities, especially sulfur. Cell outputs generally range from 50 to 250 kW. The PEM
fuel cells use hydrogen or hydrogen containing fuels as the source of chemical energy.
Hydrogen gas is fed to the anode of the fuel cell. Oxygen (or air) is fed to the cathode. The
hydrogen atom splits into a proton and an electron with the aid of the catalyst at the anode.
The two ions take different paths to the cathode. The proton passes through the electrolyte.
The electrons create a current that can be utilized as electricity as they return to the cathode to
be reunited with the hydrogen ion and oxygen to form a molecule of water. There is no

combustion occurring in this process, so the common problems associated with combustion
(air pollution, low efficiency) are not concerns for fuel cells. The chemical reactions and
some thermodynamic data for this fuel cell are:
Anode: H2(g) -> 2H+(aq) + 2eCathode: _O2(g) + 2H+(aq) + 2e- -> H2O(l)
Overall Cell: H2(g) + _O2(g) -> H2O(l)
Heat of reaction: _H = -285.8 KJ/mol
Entropy _S = -163.3 J/mol/K
Free Energy _G = -237.2 KJ/mol
Cell Potential V = 1.229 Volt
The typical efficiency of a fuel cell is approximately 70%, so a real cell develops a useful
potential of 0.8 V rather than the theoretical maximum of 1.229 V. There are three basic types
of inefficiencies related to the PEM cell reaction inhibition, internal resistance, and gas
diffusion - and they are generally termed overvoltage. Reaction inhibition is due to
limitations of the catalyst to convert hydrogen gas to hydrogen ions (protons) at the anode or
to recombine the electrons, protons, and oxygen to make water. This is often due to the
relatively slow speed of transferring electrons between the platinum catalyst and the
electrolyte. Internal resistance is caused by the mass transfer resistance of the protons into the
electrolyte from the anode catalyst, resistance as it moves across the electrolyte, and back to
the cathode catalyst. It may also be caused by the electron motion at the electrical connectors,
conductors, and in the external load. Gas diffusion can limit the reaction due to mass transfer
of the hydrogen and oxygen gas going to the electrodes. It happens when the gas is used
faster than diffusion can replace them. The electrode becomes starved for the gas, and the
reaction can be nearly halted.

2.4 Other Components of Chemical Toy Car

The fuel cell car consists a reversible PEM fuel cell that works as both an electrolyzer and a
fuel cell. As an electrolyzer, the cell uses the power delivered by a solar module to split
water into hydrogen and oxygen. As a fuel cell, the cell uses the stored hydrogen and oxygen
to power the electric motor and drive the car.
Chassis with LED light & motor
Reversible (PEM) fuel cel
Hydrogen tank
Oxygen tank
Inner Gas containers

0.75 Watt solar cell : Used to power the electrolyzer or it can be used to run the car directly
2 x 2mm Connecting leads
Battery pack with connecting leads (requires 2 X AA batteries)
Plastic plug pins for fuel cell
Transparent silicon tubing

Figure 3. The Car Schematic