FUEL CELLS
Submitted to:
Dr. Poonam Syal Submitted by:
Electrical Engineering Department Subodh Sonkhla
Roll no. 25S0621R02
ME(EE) Regular
Fuel Cell
• A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that
produces electricity without combustion by
combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce
water and heat.
Advantages over conventional energy sources
• They produce zero or very low emissions, especially Green
House Gases (GHGs) depending on the fuel used.
• Have few moving parts and thus require minimal
maintenance, reducing life cycle costs of energy production.
• Modular in design, offering flexibility in size and efficiencies
in manufacturing.
• Can be utilized for combined heat and power purposes,
further increasing the efficiency of energy production
Working Principle
• A fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen (or hydrogen-rich fuel) and
oxygen to create electricity by an electrochemical process.
• A single fuel cell consists of an electrolyte sandwiched between two
thin electrodes (a porous anode and cathode).
• Hydrogen, or a hydrogen-rich fuel, is fed to the anode where a catalyst
separates hydrogen's negatively charged electrons from positively
charged ions (protons).
• At the cathode, oxygen combines with electrons and, in some cases,
with species such as protons or water, resulting in water or hydroxide
ions, respectively
• The electrons from the anode side of the cell cannot pass
through the membrane to the positively charged cathode; they
must travel around it via an electrical circuit to reach the other
side of the cell. This movement of electrons is an electrical
current.
• The amount of power produced by a fuel cell depends upon
several factors, such as fuel cell type, cell size, the temperature
at which it operates, and the pressure at which the gases are
supplied to the cell.
• Still, a single fuel cell produces enough electricity for only the
smallest applications. Therefore, individual fuel cells are
typically combined in series into a fuel cell stack. A typical fuel
cell stack may consist of hundreds of fuel cells.
• Fuel cells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte they
employ.
• This determines the kind of chemical reactions that take place in
the cell, the kind of catalysts required, the temperature range in
which the cell operates, the fuel required, and other factors.
• There are several types of fuel cells currently under development,
each with its own advantages, limitations, and potential
applications
• Classification of Fuel Cells Based on the type of Electrolyte
1. Alkaline Fuel cell (AFC)
2. Phosphoric Acid Fuel cell (PAFC)
3. Polymer Electrolytic Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Solid Polymer Fuel Cell
(SPFC) and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cell (PEMFC).
4. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC)
5. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)
• Based on Types of Fuel and oxidant
1. Hydrogen (pure)-Oxygen (pure) fuel cell
2. Hydrogen rich gas-air fuel cell
3. Ammonia –air fuel cell
4. Synthesis gas- air fuel cell
5. Hydro carbon (gas)- air fuel cell
Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC)
• Electrolyte: Uses an alkaline electrolyte such as 40% aqueous
potassium hydroxide (KOH).
• Working Principle: Negative ions (OH⁻) move through the electrolyte to
the anode, where they react with hydrogen to produce water and
electrons, generating electricity.
• Applications: Widely used by NASA in space missions and space
shuttles to produce electrical energy and water onboard spacecraft.
• Catalyst: Can use non-precious metal catalysts at both the anode and
cathode.
• Operating Temperature:
• High-temperature AFC: 100°C – 250°C
• Modern low-temperature AFC: 23°C – 70°C
Advantages
• High performance due to fast chemical
reaction rates.
• High efficiency (about 60% in space
applications).
• Can operate stably for more than 8,000 hours.
Disadvantages
• Easily poisoned by carbon dioxide (CO₂)
present in air.
• CO₂ reacts with KOH electrolyte to form
potassium carbonate, increasing internal
resistance.
• Requires purification of hydrogen and
oxygen, which increases cost.
• Reduced lifetime and higher maintenance
cost.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC)
• Electrolyte: Molten carbonate salt mixture held in a ceramic lithium
aluminum oxide (LiAlO₂) matrix.
• Working Principle: Negative ions move through the electrolyte to the
anode, where they react with hydrogen to produce water and
electrons.
• Fuel: Can use natural gas, methane, or coal-derived gases.
• Efficiency: Up to 60% efficiency.
• Operating Temperature: Around 650°C or higher (high-temperature
fuel cell).
• Catalyst: Can use non-precious metals due to high temperature,
reducing cost.
• Applications: Used for large power plants, industrial systems, and
military applications.
• Unlike alkaline, phosphoric acid, and polymer electrolyte
membrane fuel cells, MCFCs don't require an external reformer to
convert more energy-dense fuels to hydrogen. Due to the high
temperatures at which they operate, these fuels are converted to
hydrogen within the fuel cell itself by a process called internal
reforming, which also reduces cost.
• Although they are more resistant to impurities than other fuel cell
types, scientists are looking for ways to make MCFCs resistant
enough to impurities from coal, such as sulfur and particulates
Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC):
• A phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) consists of an anode and a
cathode made of a finely dispersed platinum catalyst on carbon
and a silicon carbide structure that holds the phosphoric acid
electrolyte. In phosphoric acid fuel cells, protons move through
the electrolyte to the cathode to combine with oxygen and
electrons, producing water and heat.
• This is the most commercially developed type of fuel cell and is
being used to power many commercial premises
Phosphoric acid fuel cells use liquid phosphoric acid as an
electrolyte— the acid is contained in a Teflon-bonded silicon
carbide matrix—and porous carbon electrodes containing a
platinum catalyst.
The phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) is considered the "first
generation" of modern fuel cells. It is one of the most mature cell
types and the first to be used commercially, with over 200 units
currently in use.
This type of fuel cell is typically used for stationary power
generation, but some PAFCs have been used to power large
vehicles such as city buses.
PAFCs are more tolerant of impurities
• They are 85 percent efficient when used for the co-generation of
electricity and heat, but less efficient at generating electricity
alone (37 to 42 percent).
• PAFCs are also less powerful than other fuel cells, given the same
weight and volume.
• As a result, these fuel cells are typically large and heavy. PAFCs are
also expensive.
Applications of Fuel Cells
• Transportation: Used in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) such as
cars, buses, trucks, and trains due to high efficiency and zero tailpipe
emissions.
• Stationary Power Generation: Provides electricity for homes,
hospitals, data centers, and industries as a reliable and clean energy
source.
• Portable Power Systems: Used in portable electronic devices,
military equipment, and backup power units where long-duration
energy supply is required.
• Backup Power Supply: Fuel cells are used in telecom towers,
emergency systems, and remote locations to provide uninterrupted
power.
• Space Applications: Widely used in spacecraft to generate electricity
and produce water as a by-product.
Limitations of Fuel Cells
• High Cost: Production of fuel cells is expensive, largely because they require
precious metals like platinum as catalysts.
• Infrastructure & Availability: A limited network of hydrogen refueling stations
makes widespread adoption, particularly in transportation, challenging.
• Storage & Transportation Difficulties: Hydrogen is hard to store and transport
safely because it is highly flammable and requires specialized high-pressure or
cryogenic tanks.
• Fuel Production Energy: Producing hydrogen, often via steam reformation, can be
energy-intensive and heavily reliant on fossil fuels, reducing environmental benefits.
• Durability and Performance: Fuel cells have shorter lifespans, are susceptible to
degradation, and can face performance issues in cold climates.
• Lower Efficiency than Batteries: Fuel cell vehicles are generally less efficient than
lithium-ion BEVs.