COMMON

FUEL CELL TYPE TEMPERATURE SYSTEM OUTPUT APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

ELECTROLYTE
Backup Power
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Solid organic polymer 50 - 100 C High sensitivity to fuel
<1kW - 250kW Small distributed Quick start-up
(PEM) polyperfluorosulfonic acid 122 - 212 F impurities
generation
Solid organic polymer 50 - 100 C Laptops, Mobile High energy
Direct Methanol (DMFC) Up to 1.5kW Low power output
polyperfluorosulfonic acid 122 - 212 F Phones storage

Aqueous solution of
90 - 100 C Higher Expensive removal of
Alkaline (AFC) potassium hydroxide soaked 10kW - 100kW Military Space
194 - 212 F performance CO2 from fuel
in a matrix
Increased
Liquid phosphoric acid 150 - 200C 50kW - 1MW Distributed tolerance to Low current and
Phosphoric Acid (PACF)
soaked in a matrix 302 - 392 F (250kW module typical) generation impurities in power
Hydrogen
Liquid solution of lithium,
Electric utility
sodium, and/or potassium 600 - 700 C <1kW - 1MW
Molten Carbonate (MCFC) Large distributed High efficiency Slow start-up
carbonates soaked in a 1112 - 1292 F (250kW module typical)
generation
matrix
Auxiliary power
Solid zirconium oxide to Brittleness of ceramic
650 - 1000 C Electric utility
Solid Oxide (SOFC) which a small amount Yttria 5kW - 3MW High efficiency electrolyte with
1202 - 1832 F Large distributed
is added thermal cycling
generation