C H AP T E R 2

BASIC OPE RATION OF FUE L CELLS

Objectives:

Identify the basic components of a fuel cell

Describe the operating principle of a simple fuel cell

Outline the important considerations in fuel cell design

Identify the sources of hydrogen for fuel cell operation

Explain the requirements for safe storage, transmission and handling

of hydrogen

Identify the basic components of a fuel cell

Describe the operating principle of a simple fuel cell

 CP5054 Fuel Cells and Biomass Energy

2.1 Operating Principle of a fuel cell

Fuel cells produce electricity by converting a primary energy source (a fuel) into
a flow of electrons. This conversion involves an energy transfer step where the
energy from the fuel source is passed along to the electrons constituting the
current. This transfer has a finite rate and must occur at an interface or reaction
surface. Thus, the amount of electricity produced scales with the amount of
reaction surface area or interfacial area available for the energy transfer.
Larger surface areas translate into larger currents.

To provide large reaction surfaces that maximize surface-to-volume ratios, fuel

cells are usually made into thin, planar structures, as shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1

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 CP5054 Fuel Cells and Biomass Energy

The electrodes are highly porous to further increase the reaction surface area
and ensure good gas access. One side of the planar structure is provisioned
with fuel (the anode electrode), while the other side is provisioned with oxidant
(the cathode electrode). A thin electrolyte layer spatially separates the fuel and
oxidant electrodes and ensures that the two individual half reactions occur in
isolation from one another.

H2 ⇔ 2H++ 2e- Oxidation

½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e- ⇔ H2O Reduction

ANODE = OXIDATION, CATHODE= REDUCTION

- Oxidation refers to a process where electrons are removed from a

species. Electrons are liberated by the reaction.
- Reduction refers to a process where electrons are added to a species.
Electrons are consumed by the reaction.

For example, consider the electrochemical half reactions that occur in a H2-O2
fuel cell:
H2 ⇔ 2H++ 2e- Oxidation

½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e- ⇔ H2O Reduction

- Anode refers to an electrode where oxidation is taking place. More

generally, the anode of any two-port device, such as a diode or resistor,
is the electrode where electrons flow out.

- Cathode refers to an electrode where reduction is taking place. More

generally, the cathode is the electrode where electrons flow in.

For a H2-O2 fuel cell:

- Anode is the electrode where the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR)
takes place.
- Cathode is the electrode where the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
takes place.

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 CP5054 Fuel Cells and Biomass Energy

2.2 Components of a fuel cell

Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is the heart of a fuel cell. Figure 2.2
shows a schematic of a MEA. The MEA is typically located between a pair of
current collector plates with machined flow fields for distributing fuel and oxidant
to the anode and cathode respectively, as shown in Figure 2.3. A water jacket
for cooling is often placed at the back of each reactant flow field followed by a
metallic current collector plate.

Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3

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 CP5054 Fuel Cells and Biomass Energy

2.3 Considerations in fuel cell design

The following are considerations in choosing materials for MEA components:

- Reduced cost
- Performance at higher temperature
- Lower requirement for humidification
- Reduced permeability for methanol
- Flow field design of bipolar plates which includes current conduction,
heat conduction, gas flow control and product water removal.

2.4 Sources, Storage and Transmission of hydrogen fuel

Sources of hydrogen
Hydrogen is required for all low- and medium-temperature fuel cells. The
sources of hydrogen come from natural gas 48%, petroleum 30%, coal 18%
and water electrolysis 4%.

Storage of hydrogen
- Pressure Cylinders
- Liquid Hydrogen
- Metal Hydrides

Transmission and Distribution of hydrogen

- Produced from natural gas in a centralized steam reforming plant and
truck delivered as liquid to refuelling stations
- Produced from natural gas in a centralized steam reforming plant and
delivered via pipeline to refuelling stations
- Excess from industry sources via pipeline to refuelling stations
- Produced at refuelling station via small-scale steam reforming of natural
gas
- Produced via small-scale water electrolysis at refuelling stations or in
residential homes

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