National Institute of Science & Technology

Fuel Cells : The Innovation of the

Future

TECHNICAL SEMINAR
T.RAHUL
ROLL NO.- 200118045
7TH SEMESTER

[1]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

INTRODUCTION
National Institute of Science & Technology

• WHAT IS A FUEL CELL ?

• PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION.

T.RAHUL [2]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future
National Institute of Science & Technology

CHARACTERISTICS OF FUEL
CELLS

• Fuel Cells are clean and quiet

• Fuel Cells are efficient even at part loads
• Fuel Cells are modular
• Fuel Cells provide high availability and
reliability
• Fuel Cells are efficient even at part loads

T.RAHUL [3]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future
National Institute of Science & Technology

TYPES OF FUEL CELLS

 Phosphoric Acid fuel cell (PAFC)
 Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEM)
 Molten Carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)
 Solid Oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
 Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
 Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)
 Regenerative Fuel Cells
 Zinc-Air Fuel Cells (ZAFC)
 Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell (PCFC)

T.RAHUL [4]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

APPLICATIONS
National Institute of Science & Technology

• Stationary.
• Residential.
• Transportation.
• Portable Power
• Landfill/Wastewater Treatment.

T.RAHUL [5]
 BENEFITS
National Institute of Science & Technology

•Energy Security.
•Security of Supply.
•Physical Security.
•High Reliability.
•High Quality Power.
•High Efficiency.
•Power generation
•Transportation.
•Environmental Benefits.
• Power Generation.

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 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

BENEFITS COND...
National Institute of Science & Technology

• Motor Vehicles.
• International Benefits.
• Portable Power
• Productivity and Military Applications

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 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

FUTURE MARKET SCENARIO (1)

National Institute of Science & Technology

• Market studies predict that large scale applications for

fuel cells are just round the corner.
• Cost/KW is still quite high, fuel cells are expected to
enter into the niche market of high technology electronic
devices like PDA’S,CELL PHONES, ETC
• However the reliable and longer lasting power promised
by the fuel cells far outweighs the extra cost and a no. of
users are willing to bet to bet their money on it.
• Big shots like SONY, HITACHI, TOSHIBA, etc have
already announced their Fuel Cell development plans.

T.RAHUL [8]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

FUTURE MARKET SCENARIO (2)

National Institute of Science & Technology

• After getting a foothold in the portable power segment, Fuel Cells

are expected to start making in-roads into the stationary distributed
power application systems.
• Here again,the premium power segment, consisting of Computer
Centers, Electronic data communication centers and E-Financial
sectors would be the first to accept the Fuel Cells as these sectors
would be able to absorb the initial high costs of the Fuel Cells.

T.RAHUL [9]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

FUTURE MARKET SCENARIO (3)

National Institute of Science & Technology

• Other segments like remote areas where grid

power is not available and is too prohibitive to
provide through regular grid, as also the
defense, space, military related operations are
also expected to benefit from Fuel Cell based
applications/alternatives.
• The real revolution is expected to come from
vehicular applications of Fuel Cells.

T.RAHUL [10]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future
National Institute of Science & Technology

FUTURE MARKET SCENARIO (4)

• All the major automobile manufacturers have tied up
with one Fuel Cell company or the other. A no. of
them are already operating their own respective
concept cars and buses, using Fuel Cells.
• However Vehicular Fuel Cells would take a little
more time to replace the existing IC engines as the
prime movers in passenger cars, etc

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 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future

CONCLUSION
National Institute of Science & Technology

• Fuel Cells have a very rosy, bright and definite future, according to the
market projections, for all the three market segments described
previously i.e. portable, stationary and vehicular.
• Allied Business Intelligence (March, 2001) predicted fuel cell generated
electricity to jump from a mere 75 MW in 2001 to 15000 MW in 2011.

T.RAHUL [12]
 Fuel cells:Innovation of the future
National Institute of Science & Technology

THANK YOU

T.RAHUL [13]