Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells Vs Conventional Power

Sources
Chemical energy of fuel and oxidizer
FC is an electrochemical
device in which the energy of
Combustion
chamber
Fuel cell fuel and oxidant continuously
supplied to electrodes is
Heat directly converted into
electricity without low-
Turbine or engine efficient combustion process.

Mechanical
As there is no heat/power
energy conversion in these devices,
their energy efficiency is
Electric
generator much higher than that of
traditional power units, and
Electric current can reach 90%.
The Fuel Cell
 A Need for Change
 Battery technologies are not
keeping pace with demand
 Battery life
 Miniaturization
 Global warming
 A Possible Solution
 Fuel Cell: A device that uses
hydrogen (or a hydrogen-rich
fuel) and oxygen to create an
electric current
Fuel Cells vs. Batteries
 Designed to be continuously powered
 Fuel source can be re-supplied without
interrupting power
 Unlike batteries, the fuel source is not contained
inside the fuel cell - increases shelf life and
decreases time before replacement is necessary
 Produces water waste only
 Environmentally friendly - companies such as
Dell must currently offer recycling programs for
batteries in order to comply with government
environmental regulations
 More efficient than batteries
 Parts of a Fuel Cell
 Anode
 Negative post of the fuel cell.
 Conducts the electrons that are freed from the
hydrogen molecules so that they can be used in an
external circuit.
 Etched channels disperse hydrogen gas over the
surface of catalyst.
 Cathode
 Positive post of the fuel cell
 Etched channels distribute oxygen to the surface of the
catalyst.
 Conducts electrons back from the external circuit to
the catalyst
 Recombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to
form water.
Proton-Exchange Membrane Cell

http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Nov03/Fuelcell.institute.deb.html
 Electrolyte
 Proton exchange membrane (PEM).
 Specially treated material, only conducts positively
charged ions.
 Membrane blocks electrons.
 Catalyst
 Special material that facilitates reaction of oxygen
and hydrogen
 Usually platinum powder very thinly coated onto
carbon paper or cloth.
 Rough & porous maximizes surface area exposed to
hydrogen or oxygen
 The platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces the
PEM.
 Fuel Cell Operation
 Pressurized hydrogen gas (H2) enters cell on anode side.
 Gas is forced through catalyst by pressure.
 When H2 molecule comes contacts platinum catalyst, it splits into
two H+ ions and two electrons (e-).
 Electrons are conducted through the anode
 Make their way through the external circuit (doing useful work
such as turning a motor) and return to the cathode side of the fuel
cell.
 On the cathode side, oxygen gas (O2) is forced through the catalyst
 Forms two oxygen atoms, each with a strong negative charge.
 Negative charge attracts the two H+ ions through the membrane,
 Combine with an oxygen atom and two electrons from the external
circuit to form a water molecule (H2O).
 A Timeline: Fuel Cell Implementation
1993: Ballard Power Systems
1839: Sir William Grove launches first proof-of-concep
invents the first fuel cell hydrogen fuel cell bus, Vanco
Late 1950’s: Allis-Chambers 1996: Daimler Benz and Toyota are
Manufacturing Co. demonstratescompanies to unveil prototype fuel c
20 hp fuel cell-powered tractorpassenger cars
1965: NASA uses alkaline fuel2000: Ballard Power Systems unvei
cell in Apollo space missions first production-ready fuel cell for au

1970: Karl Kordesch builds the2001: Honda opens the first hydrog
first practical fuel cell car and fueling station in Torrance, CA
1993: Ballard Power Systems
launches first proof-of-concept2004: The World’s first fuel cell-powe
undergoes deep-water trials
hydrogen fuel cell bus in Vancouver
 Benefits of Fuel Cells
 Environmental Reasons
 Driving force
 Lowered emissions
 Less noisy
 Higher quality
 Can be programmed for 99.999% uptime
 More reliable
 On site
 No movable parts
More Benefits
 Increased Efficiency
 Up to 80% with pure Hydrogen
 With reformer about ~24-32%
 Gasoline ~20%
 Battery-Powered ~26% with
recharging
 Distributed Generation
 Flexible Technology
 Portable
 Modular
 Some Limitations
 Hydrogen:
 Not readily available, must use other energy sources to
convert
 Infrastructure not in place
 Difficult to store/distribute
 High Capital Cost
 Non-technical barriers
 Could have dramatic impact
Automotive Industry & Hydrogen
 GM and others are looking to capitalize on the next
generation of cars
 After enormous success of rivals like Honda and Toyota with
hybrid vehicles
 GM, along with other domestic automotive makers
 Face serious threats of bankruptcy, making a large R&D push
difficult.
 Rivals such as Toyota and Honda are already ahead of GM
and Ford
•A 30 ft. Hydrogen Fuel cell powered transit bus made by
Ballard Power Systems in Canada.

•It has a 275 horsepower engine, and a range of 250 miles

before requiring refueling.

•The only emission from this bus is warm, moist air.

 Honda FCX

Operates between -20C

and 95C.

Honda has also

built a hydrogen
production and
filling station
prototype.
 Ford FCV

Driving range 100 miles.

H2 Fuel Cell
 Ford H2RV

H2 Internal Combustion Engine

hybrid with electric motor.

Driving Range 125 miles.

 Future
2015 – 2025- Substantial markets for
hydrogen-powered vehicles likely to
start developing

2020: 5 to 10 million hydrogen-powered cars

2030: 50 million hydrogen powered cars

2040: 150 million hydrogen-powered cars

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Introduction
Geothermal Reservoirs
Advantages
Disadvantages