Fuel Cell

Dr. A Hasib Chowdhury

Dept. of EEE, BUET
September 2014

Fuel Cell
A fuel cell is, in effect, an electric battery, with
some difference
Battery electrodes are the fuel and the oxidant,
which are consumed in battery reaction
Fuel cell both fuel and oxidant supplied by an
external source
First fuel cells invented in 1838
First commercial use of fuel cells NASA space
programs to generate power for probes, satellites
and space capsules

Fuel Cell

In a October 1838 letter, published in

December 1838 edition of The London
and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine
and Journal of Science
Welsh physicist and barrister William
Grove wrote about development of his
fuel cells
He used a combination of sheet iron,
copper and porcelain plates, and a
solution of sulphate of copper and dilute
acid
In a letter to same publication written in
December 1838 but published in June
1839, German physicist Christian
Friedrich Schnbein reported fuel cell
invented by him
His letter discussed current generated
from hydrogen and oxygen dissolved in
water

contd.

Sketch of William Grove's

1839 fuel cell

Fuel Cell
Hydrogen supplied to a gas chamber on
anode side of cell and air or oxygen to a
gas chamber on cathode side
Electrodes are separated by an ion
exchange membrane ~ 1 mm thick
allows passage of positive hydrogen ions
H+ but not neutral oxygen O2 molecules
Two sides of membrane coated with a
catalyst facilitates chemical reactions
in which a number of electrons (e-) are
released at anode from hydrogen atoms,
resulting in an equal number of positive
hydrogen ions (H+)
Free electrons proceed from anode
through load resistance to cathode
combine with hydrogen ions that have
passed through membrane produce
water, which is drained from cell

contd.

Ion-membrane fuel cell

used in Gemini
spacecraft

Fuel Cell

contd.

The chemical reactions:

This action is reverse of that by means

of which water is decomposed
electrolytically into hydrogen and
oxygen
Energy converted by this fuel cell into
electrical form is
n number of electrons
E generated voltage between electrodes (for the cell
under discussion cannot exceed 1.23 V)

Fuel Cell

contd.

Fuel cell converts chemical energy isothermally to

direct current
An isothermal process is a change of a system, in
which temperature remains constant, T = 0

Does not involve thermodynamic relation , which

limits efficiency of heat engines
As would be the case if chemical were first converted
into thermal energy and then into electrical energy

This thermodynamic relationship shows maximum

heat engine efficiency to be proportional to ratio
known as Carnot efficiency
TH absolute temperature of incoming working fluid
Tc absolute temperature of working fluid rejected to

Fuel Cell

contd.

Electrochemical conversion can be isothermal

Carnot-cycle limitation requires heat to flow from a higher
to a lower temperature and be partially converted to work
Chemical energy is free energy, also known as Gibbs free
energy of the reaction
H change in heat content or enthalpy change of reaction
S change in entropy

Gibbs energy is a thermodynamic potential that measures

"usefulness" or process-initiating work obtainable from a
thermodynamic system at a constant temperature and pressure
(isothermal, isobaric)

Energy associated with entropy is irreversible and

efficiency based on above Eq. is

Fuel Cell

contd.

Advantage of the
fuel cell
disappears at
temperatures
above 1200K
Carnot efficiency based on Tc = 298K

Theoretical efficiency of a hydrogenoxygen fuel cell and Carnot-cycle

efficiency

Fuel Cell

contd.

Use of fuel cells as electric power sources limited to small

power requirements, particularly where initial costs are not of
prime importance, as in spacecraft and in military applications
Used for primary and backup power for commercial, industrial
and residential buildings and in remote or inaccessible areas
Also used to power fuel-cell vehicles, including forklifts,
automobiles, buses, boats, motorcycles and submarines
In addition to electricity, fuel cells produce water, heat and,
depending on the fuel source, very small amounts of nitrogen
dioxide and other emissions
Energy efficiency of a fuel cell is generally between 4060%, or
up to 85% efficient in cogeneration if waste heat is captured for
use