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 What is a Fuel Cell?
 Electrical (and heat) power generator
 “Continuous battery”
 Runs as long as fuel and air (oxidant)
are supplied

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 Fuel cells are electrochemical devices capable of
directly converting chemical energy into electrical
energy.

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 Anode Cathode

e-
H+
H2 O2
H2  2H+ + 2e- ½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e-  H2O

Electrolyte

Overall: H2 + ½ O2  H2O 6
 Brief History of Fuel Cells
 1839 Sir William Grove – credited with first electrochemical
H2/O2 reaction to create energy
 1950s Thomas Bacon – fuel cell stack
 1950s-now – fuel cells in space program (alkaline)
 1960s other fuel cells discovered – phosphoric acid, SOFC,
molten carbonate, PEMFC
 1970s – first stationary power applications
 1990s-now – transportation and other applications under
development
 2006 – commercial sales for communications backup power
systems

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Fuel Cell Types

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Types of fuel cells:
Classified on the basis of operating conditions
and various electrolytes used.

 Alkaline fuel cells (AFC)

 Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM)
 Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC)
 Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC)
 Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).

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 AFC PAFC
Type PEM MCFC SOFC
100- 150-
°C 90-110 500-700 700-1000
250 220 [930-1300] [1300-1800]
[°F] [200-230]
[212-500] [300-430]
Fuel H2 + H 2O H2 H2 HC + CO HC + CO
Electrolyt Nafion KOH H3PO4 Na2CO3 Y-ZrO2
e
H3O+  OH-  H+  CO32-  O2- 
Ion
Oxidant O2 O2 + H2O O2 O2 + CO2 O2

By-products: H2O, CO2

PEM = polymer electrolyte membrane, or proton exchange membrane
AFC = alkali fuel cell
PAFC = phosphoric acid fuel cell
MCFC = molten carbonate fuel cell
SOFC = solid oxide fuel cell
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 Electrolyte: KOH in H2O
Liquid in a matrix, or liquid re-circulated
 Mobile species: OH-
 Half cell reactions
 anode: H2 + 2OH-  2H2O + 2e-
 cathode: ½ O2 + H2O + 2e-  2OH-
 Catalysts
 anode: Ni, Ni-Pt, Ni-Co, etc.
 cathode: NiO, Ag, etc.
 unlike other fuel cells, rapid cathode kinetics, slower anode.
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 Electrolyte: H3PO4 + H2O (~20%)
Liquid in a SiC matrix
 Mobile species: H+
 Half cell reactions
 anode: H2  2H+ + 2e-
 cathode: ½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e-  H2O
 Catalysts
 anode + cathode: Pt/Vulcan carbon
 Pt coarsens with time, phosphate adsorbs to surface
 like most fuel cells, slow cathode kinetics, faster anode.

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 Electrolyte: K2CO3, Na2CO3, Li2CO3 eutectic liq (500-700°C)
 Liquid in a LiAlO2 matrix
 Mobile species: CO3=
 Half cell reactions
 anode: H2 + CO3=  CO2+ H2O + 2e-
 cathode: ½ O2 + CO2 + 2e-  CO3=
 Catalysts
 anode: Ni-Al, Ni-Cr alloys
 cathode: NiO
 like most fuel cells, slow cathode kinetics, faster anode

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 Electrolyte: yttria stabilized zirconia, YSZ, Zr0.92Y0.08O1.96
true solid electrolyte
 Mobile species: O= [or oxygen vacancy]
 Half cell reactions
 anode: H2 + O=  H2O + 2e-
 cathode: ½ O2 + 2e-  O=
 Catalysts
 anode: Ni + YSZ
 cathode: (La,Sr)MnO3-
 like other fuel cells, slow cathode kinetics, fast anode

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 Electrolyte: Sulfonated, perfluorinated polymer [Nafion]
 “water–polymer composite”

 Mobile species: H(H2O)n+ [not H+]

 Half cell reactions
 anode: H2 + 2nH2O  2H(H2O)n+ + 2e-
 cathode: ½ O2 + 2H(H2O)n+ + 2e-  H2O
 Catalysts
 anode: Pt/Vulcan carbon ~ 0.1 mg/cm2
 cathode: Pt/Vulcan carbon ~ 1 mg/cm2
 like other fuel cells, slow cathode kinetics, fast anode.

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Up to ~65% efficiencies.
No combustion products (SOX,CO)
although there may be NOX at high
temperatures.
Vibration free, almost silent – can be
located close to the load.
Waste heat can be used for cogeneration.
Byproduct is water.
Modular in nature.
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 Physical Security
 Reliability
 Efficiency
 Environmental Benefits
 Battery Replacement/Alternative
 Military Applications

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 Transportation
 Stationary Power Stations
 Telecommunications
 Micro Power

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Presented by

A.VIGNESHWARAN BTF-09-041

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