SEMINAR ON FUEL CELLS

PREPARED BY :ANIRUDH GUPTA SUB: ELECTROMETALLURGY AND CORROSION. ROLL NO. : 902 YEAR : 2011

METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGG. DEPT. FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING M.S. UNIVERSITY OF BARODA

DEFINITION

A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity
through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent in the presence of an electrolyte.

The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction products flow out of it, while the electrolyte remains within it.

Fuel cells can operate continuously as long as the necessary reaction and oxidant flows are maintained

WORKING

Fuel cells come in many varieties; however, they all work in the same general manner. They are made up of three segments which are sandwiched together: the anode, the electrolyte, and the cathode.

Two chemical reactions occur at the interfaces of the three different segments. The net result of the two reactions is that fuel is consumed, water or carbon dioxide is created, and an electric current is created, which can be used to power electrical devices, normally referred to as the load.

At the anode a catalyst oxidizes the fuel, usually hydrogen, turning the fuel into a positively charged ion and a negatively charged electron.

The electrolyte is a substance specifically designed so ions can pass through it, but the electrons cannot.

The freed electrons travel through a wire creating the electric current. The ions
travel through the electrolyte to the cathode.

Once reaching the cathode, the ions are reunited with the electrons and the two react with a third chemical, usually oxygen, to create water or carbon dioxide.

The voltage from one single cell is about 0.7 volts just about enough for a light bulb much less a car. When the cells are stacked in series, the operating voltage increases to 0.7 volts multiplied by the number of cells stacked

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF A FUEL CELL

REACTIONS

Oxidation half reaction: 2H2 4H+ + 4e-

Reduction half reaction: O2 + 4H+ + 4e- 2H2O

Cell reaction: 2H2 + O2 2H2O + electricity + heat

TYPES OF FUEL CELLS

Fuel cells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte they employ. It determines : The kind of chemical reactions that take place in the cell, The kind of catalysts required, The temperature range in which the cell operates, The fuel required, and other factors.

ALKALI FUEL CELLS

Alkali fuel cells operate on compressed hydrogen and oxygen. They generally use a solution of potassium hydroxide (chemically, KOH) in water as their electrolyte.

Efficiency is about 70 percent, and operating temperature is 150 to 200 degrees C, (about 300 to 400 degrees F). Cell output ranges from 300 watts (W) to 5 kilowatts (kW).

Alkali cells were used in Apollo spacecraft to provide both electricity and drinking

water.

PHOSPHORIC FUEL CELLS

Phosphoric Acid fuel cells (PAFC) use phosphoric acid as the electrolyte.

Efficiency - 40 to 80 %, and operating temperature 150-200 degrees C.

outputs up to 200 kW, and 11 MW.

PAFCs tolerate a CO concentration of about 1.5 %, which broadens the choice of fuels they can use.

Platinum electrode-catalysts are needed, and internal parts must be able to withstand the corrosive acid.

MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELL

Molten Carbonate fuel cells use

high-temperature compounds of salt

(like Na or Mg) carbonates as electrolyte.

Efficiency- 60 to 80 % operating temp - 650 degrees C . The high temperature limits damage from CO "poisoning" of the cell and waste heat can be recycled to make additional electricity.

Their nickel electrode-catalysts are

comparatively inexpensive but high

temp. limits safe use of these cells.

PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells work with a polymer electrolyte in the form of a thin, permeable sheet.

Efficiency - 40 to 50 percent operating temperature - 80 degrees C Cell outputs - 50 to 250 kW. The solid, flexible electrolyte will not leak or crack, and these cells operate at a low enough temperature to make them suitable for homes and cars.

But their fuels must be purified, and a platinum catalyst is used on both sides of the membrane, raising costs

SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS

Solid Oxide fuel cells use a hard, ceramic compound of metal (like calcium or zirconium) oxides (chemically, O2) as electrolyte.

Efficiency - 60 % operating temp- 1,000 degrees C . Cells output - 100 kW. At such high temperatures a reformer is not

required to extract hydrogen from the fuel,

and waste heat can be recycled to make additional electricity.

MERITS OF FUEL CELLS

Fuel cells eliminate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels; the only by-product is

water.

If the hydrogen used comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells eliminates green house gases.

Fuel cells do not need conventional fuels such as oil or gas and can therefore eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries.

Since hydrogen can be produced anywhere where there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be distributed

Fuel cells have a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines. Most fuel cells operate silently, compared to internal combustion engines.

DEMERITS OF FUEL CELLS

Major disadvantage- High operational Cost (Pt catalyst used).

Require high purity Hydrogen which is not available easily & can be obtained by
electrolysis which is quite costly.

Fuelling fuel cells is still a problem since the production , transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen is difficult.

Reforming hydrocarbons via reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not clearly environmentally friendly

Fuels cells are in general slightly bigger than comparable batteries or engines. The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer and the driving range is shorter than in normal car.

APPLICATIONS OF FUEL CELLS

Stationary fuel cells are used for commercial, industrial and residential primary and backup power generation.

Fuel cells are very useful as power sources in remote locations, such as spacecraft,

remote weather stations, large parks, communications centres .

Significant role in automobile sector. Distributed generation. An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) provides emergency power and Unlike a standby generator, it can provide instant protection from a momentary power interruption.

Electric and hybrid vehicles. Mobile phones and radio.

THANK YOU