Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

---------- A SOLUTION FOR EFFICIENT ENERGY
CONSERVATION AND POLLUTION REDUCTION

M. ABDUL SHAFI,
3rd B.TECH, MECHANICAL,
A.I.T.S, RAJAMPET,
KADAPA (DIST.), A.P.
Email I.D: shafima_301@yahoo.com
Phone: 09247767812

ABSTRACT

Fuel cells are considered for electric power generation with efficiency,
neglecting pollution and negligible pollution and negligible noise, among many other
advantages for stationary, mobile and portable power applications. Since the beginning of
the space age , tremendous progress has been made in the development of many types of
fuel cells depending upon the specific applications.

Fuel cells are regularly used in space vehicles and shuttle applications
with 125-250 kW modules. The easier way to understand fuel cells is to think of them as
a cousin to the ordinary battery both produce electricity through electrochemical
reactions. The difference lies in a fuel cells ability to constantly produce electricity. The
byproducts of the electrochemical reaction that occurs in a fuel cell are electricity, water
vapour and heat. Theoretically the water vapour can be recycled to produce hydrogen.
The waste heat can be utilized for heating water space heating and cooling.

The direct conversion of fuel into electricity allows fuels to achieve

substantially higher efficiency than combustion which is limited by Carnot’s law of
Thermodynamics. Fuel cells achieve efficiency of 35% to 90% depending on whether the
waste heat is employed.

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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

A cell (or combination of cells) capable of generating an electric current

by converting the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy is known as
Fuel cell. The fuel cell is similar to other electric cells in the respect that it consists of
positive and negative electrodes with an electrolyte between them. Fuel in a suitable form
is supplied to the negative electrode and oxygen, often from air, to the positive electrode.

When the cell operates, the fuel is oxidized and the chemical reaction
provides the energy that is converted in to the electricity. Fuel cell differ from
conventional electric cells in the respect that the active material (i.e. fuel and oxygen) are
not contained with in the cell but are supplied from outside. But for its costs, pure
hydrogen gas would be preferred fuel or fuel cells. Main uses of fuel cells are in power
production, automobile vehicles and in special military use.

The fuel cell was invented in 1839 by Sir William Grove of Swensa,
Wales, and the fuel cell technology has been in development for over a century. The first
applications were in National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) of U.S.A,
space missions because of fuel cell’s dual production of electric power and water, but
these devices were too expensive for a wide range of commercial and consumer uses.
With decreasing fossil fuel resources and increasing global pollution, the need has
increased significantly for better power sources that produce high quality electric energy
with higher energy conversion efficiency and negligible emissions with fossil, renewable
and other energy resources. The fuel cell is an answer to many of these needs. Hence, the
fuel cell is considered as one of the best alternatives to generate electricity for stationary,
mobile and portable device applications.

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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

Fuel cells can compete quite easily with combustion engines from high
efficiency, low maintenance, negligible pollution, and low noise points of view. However,
high cost is the major issue with the fuel cell power today. A single cell proton exchange
membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is shown Fig. below.

Types of Fuel Cells

Fuel cells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte they employ. This 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.
These characteristics, in turn, affect the applications for which these cells are most
suitable. There are several types of fuel cells currently under development, each with its
own advantages, limitations, and potential applications.

 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)
 Alkaline Fuel Cells
 Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC)
 Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC)
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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

 Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)

 Regenerative Fuel Cells
 Comparison of Fuel Cell Technologies
The advantages of the low temperature portion exchange membrane fuel
cells (PEMFC) for mobile (automotive) and residential electric power applications are:
short startup and shutdown time and the use of many ordinary materials (such as
polymers, metals and graphite) for components if hydrogen is used as the fuel. Since the
CO tolerance level of the PEMFC is less than 10 ppm. The high temperature fuel cells
(Molten Carbonate-MCFC and Solid Oxide-SOFC) can use diverse fuel source than low
temperature fuel cells. It is ideal for mid-size (MW) distributed stationary power
generation. They can have internal fuel reforming with natural gas, various fossil fuels,
biogases and other fuels. Due to their high operating temperatures, cogeneration and
hybrid systems are possible to achieve higher overall system efficiency.

OPERATION OF FUEL CELL (H2 –O2 or Hydrox cell):-

The operation of the fuel cell can best be described with reference of
specific device. Fuel cell can be adopted to a variety of fuels by changing the catalyst.
Here Hydrogen, Oxygen (Hydrox) cell is described below.

The electro chemical reactions occurring at the electrodes of a hydrogen-

oxygen cell may very with the nature of the electrolyte, but basically they are as follows.
At the negative electrode, hydrogen gas (H2) is converted into hydrogen ions (H+) i.e.
hydrogen with a positive electric charge, plus an equivalent number of electrons (i.e. e);
thus

H2 2 H+ + 2 e

At this electrode, hydrogen is diffused through the permeable nickel in

which is embedded a catalyst. The catalyst enables the hydrogen molecules, H 2 to be
absorbed, on the electrode surface as hydrogen atoms, which reacts with the hydroxyl
ions (OH-) in the electrolyte to form water.

When the cell is operating and producing current, the electrons flow
through the external load to the positive electrode ; here they interact with oxygen (O2)
and water (H2O) from the electrolyte to form negatively charged hydroxyl (OH-) ions ;
thus

1/2 O2 + H2O + 2 e 2OH-

The hydrogen and hydroxyl ions then combine in the electrolyte to produce water

H+ + OH- H2O

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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

The electrolyte is typically 40%KOH solution because of its high

electrical conductivity and it is less corrosive than acids.

The above equation shows that hydroxyl ions produced at one electrode
are involved in the reaction at the other. Also electrons are absorbed from the oxygen
electrode and released to the hydrogen electrode. Addition of the three forgoing reactions
show that when the cell is operating, the overall process is the chemical combination of
hydrogen and oxygen (gases) to form water that is

H2 + 1/2 O2 H2O

The oxygen and hydrogen are converted to water, which is the waste
product of the cell. The reactants are stored outside the cell (note difference from storage
battery), and the electrodes and electrolyte are not consumed in the overall process. These
properties lead to the design of convenient small size and long life power units.

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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

Applications:-

 Domestic use:
Fuel cell generates direct current which can be used for electric
lamps and some small applications such as heat pumps, motors etc., and
conversion into alternating current by means of an inverter might be necessary.

 Automotive Power Generation:

Low temperature fuel cell like proton exchange fuel cells
(PEMFC) operate at a temperature below 1300C and are most widely investigated
for automobile applications due to their fast startup and transient operation.

 Space-Shuttle Power Generation:

Alkaline fuel cells pure hydrogen and oxygen (stored at

cryogenics temperatures in liquid state) are used for electric power generation in
space shuttles.

 Portable Power Generation:

Many devices use portable power using batteries. Some

examples are : digital cameras, personal digital assistance (PDAs), portable audio,
mobile phones, camcorders power range for these devices is 11-50 W and Laptops in
the power range less than 10 W, military applications etc.,

 Fuel Cell Power For Submarines:

The development of fuel cell power for submarine by German

Navy started with alkaline fuel cells, followed by solid polymer fuel cells and now
PEMFCs are considered for the submarine applications due the following superiority
reasons: high power density, favorable temperature cycling and load changing
behavior, no need for regeneration after shutdown, absence of corrosive, liquid
electrolyte, favorable efficiency and noiseless operation.

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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

COMPARISION BETWEEN FUELCELL AND TRADITIONAL BATTERY:

Fuel cell Traditional battery

Fuel cell ability to constantly produce Battery’s ability for continuous

Electricity depends on the availability working depends on its recharging

It since a fuel cell doesn’t store energy Battery stores energy which tends
internally, it will not rundown like a them to run down
battery

Fuel cell directly converts the fuel in to Battery has to replenish its electricity
Electricity from an external source

They are compact and less in weight for They are some what bulky due to
some amount of energy their basic construction than fuel cell

To increase the power in a fuel cell more To increase the power of a battery
fuel is introduce into the system more batteries have to be added
which increases the weight and
complexity of system

The vehicles powered by fuels offer the Vehicles which use batteries
range power, responsiveness and rapid cant offer more power range and
fueling responsiveness when compared with
a fuel cell

Fuel cells operates quietly and are zero to Batteries results in uncomfortable
low emissions noises due to vibrations

They will not cause pollution They causes severe Air pollution

Due to their compactness they does not Due to their heavy weight they
limit the vehicles range and capacity become a hindrance to the vehicle
range and capacity

They does not contain and toxin elements The batteries are composed of toxic
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 Recent trends in Non Conventional Energy sources: FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

and have a longer lifetime material and have a limited lifetime

leading to disposal problems.

Conclusion:

Tremendous progress has been made in the development of fuel cell

systems for stationary, portable and mobile power generation during the last 10 years.
Currently the status of various applications is as follows.

For stationary power, PAFCs are commercially available. MCFCs and

SOFCs have been installed at many places around the world as prototype units, and the
experience is being build up for the durability and reliability. Most of the fuel cell
systems are available in 125 kW and higher power modules.

For automotive power, most major automotive manufactures have

prototype cars, trucks and busses operating on the road to gain the experience debug the
system and make them cost effective

For portable power, the technology has developed to the stage that fuel
cell powered cell phones, laptops, and PDAs will be marked in the early 2004 this will
use methanol as the fuel for fuel cells. For other portable devices, both DMFCs and
PEMFCs are being developed and many prototype units are being used by the US
military today.

It is anticipated that with in one generation, their will be considerable use

of fuel cell for electric power generation impacting the energy conversion efficiency,
reducing the pollution and making the society less dependent on the fossil fuels.