Fuel Cells vs Lithium-Ion for Artificial Hearts
Fuel Cells vs Lithium-Ion for Artificial Hearts
The design of an artificial heart is a project that dates back half a century and has already mobilized
number of cardiologists and engineers from around the world, given the real technological challenge at stake.
Example of a technological challenge: the battery
Data:
Température : 0°C = 273 K ;
Pressure: 1 bar = 105Dad
Capacity of a battery: Q = ne-×F
Q: capacity or quantity of electricity available in coulombs (C)
ne-maximum amount of electrons that can flow in moles (mol)
F: Faraday constant = charge of one mole of electrons; 1F = 9.65 × [Link]-1
It is recalled that the energy stored in a battery corresponds to the product of the amount of electricity
available by the voltage across this battery or electromotive force.
1. Choice of the heart power supply technology.
The artificial heart needs an energy source in order to fulfill its role as a pump.
sang. The first batteries used for the artificial heart were lithium-ion batteries. But
Since then, we have been looking to replace lithium-ion batteries with fuel cells.
1.1. According to Appendix 1, for what reasons do we want to replace the lithium-ion battery with a
fuel cell?
1.2. The reactants of the fuel cell are on one hand dihydrogen H2and on the other hand the
dioxygen O2of air. The oxidizing-reducing couples involved in this battery are H+/ H2and
O2/ H2O.
1.2.1. The half-equation of the couple O 2/ H2It is written:
O2+ …… H+ + …… = ……
Copy onto your sheet by completing and balancing this half-equation. The half-
balanced equation of the couple H+/ H2is H2= 2 H+ + 2 e–
1.2.2. From this deduce the overall equation modeling the operation of this cell.
1.2.3. Is the electrode where hydrogen arrives the anode or the cathode? Justify.
1.2.4. On the document below, specify the name and sign of each electrode, indicate
the direction of electric current and that of electrons.
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2. Operation of the fuel cell
According to annex 1, what energy must be provided by the fuel cell for it to
autonomie soit de 12 heures ? Exprimer le résultat en W·h, puis en J.
2.2. The voltage across the battery terminals is 4.0 V.
To deduce that the capacity in coulombs (C) is on the order of 2.9×105C.
2.3. In particular, using the half-equation associated with the couple H +/ H2check that the quantity of
hydrogen matter to be stored in the fuel cell in order to achieve the desired autonomy
is nH2= 1.5 mol.
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ANNEX DOCUMENTS
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Exercise 2: lithium iron phosphate batteries
2.4. Indicate on the document above the direction of the electrons in the electrical circuit, the direction of
electric current as well as the polarity of the electrodes.
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Annex 1: choice of lithium iron phosphate batteries
Lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO)4or LFP) are the safest among batteries at
traditional lithium-ion. The nominal voltage of an LFP cell is 3.2 V. A battery
A 12.8 V LFP is made up of 4 cells connected in series, and a 25.6 V battery is
composed of 8 cells connected in series. Durable, a lead battery will fail.
prematurely due to sulfation:
If it operates in deficit mode for long periods (that is to say, the battery
is rarely or never fully charged).
If it is left partially charged, or worse, fully discharged (for yachts or
mobile home during the winter.
It is not necessary to fully charge an LFP battery. The lifespan improves.
even slightly in the case of partial load instead of full load. This represents a
major advantage of the LFP battery compared to the lead-acid battery. These batteries are
other advantages such as a wide operating temperature range, performance
excellent achievement of cycle, low internal resistance, and high efficiency
A LFP battery is therefore the chemistry of choice for very
demanding.
according to[Link]
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Annex 3: operating principle of a cell in an LFP battery
C’est l’ion lithium qui assure le déplacement de charge électrique à l’intérieur de la batterie.
When the battery is completely discharged, the hexagonal carbon sites are empty and
The lithium atoms are all combined with iron phosphate. The migration of lithium occurs
in ionic form Li+ through the membrane.
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Exercise 3: the lithium-ion battery
Source : [Link]
silicon-that-recharges-in-10-minutes-zhou-chongwu
1.1. What are the charge carriers responsible for the flow of current in the electrolyte?
1.2. What are the charge carriers responsible for the flow of current in the circuit wires?
electric?
[Link] the direction of movement of all load carriers during the discharge of
the battery on the document below:
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2. Study of the technical characteristics of the battery
On an old device, the batteries had the following characteristics: Ni-MH / 18.0 V /
2.20 A.h.
We want to know if we can replace a recent Lithium-Ion battery with an old one.
Ni-MH battery that costs less.
On the internet, one can find the information provided in appendices 1 and 2.
2.1. The energy of the Li-Ion battery is 57.6 W·h when it is fully charged. From
from Appendix 2, provide a range for the mass of the Li-Ion battery.
The energy required by a device depends on its mass, and therefore on that of its battery.
Explain, without calculation, one of the advantages of a Li-Ion battery compared to a Ni-MH battery.
2.3. From the two annexes, give two other reasons why Ni-MH batteries
have been replaced by Li-Ion batteries.
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Annex 2 :
Source:[Link]
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TSTI2D and TSTL Theme: electric energy storage Corrected
1.2.3. Hydrogen loses electrons, it is therefore oxidized: the electrode is thus the anode.
1.2.4.
Or, according to the stoichiometric coefficients of the half-equation of the couple H+/H2,
1 mol of dihydrogen produces 2 mol of electrons.
So for with n(e–n = 3.0 mol, a quantity of hydrogen is neededH21.5 mol.
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3.2. According to the appendix, at 293 K, dihydrogen can only be solid or gaseous:
P× V 12.105× 0.8.10-3
According to the ideal gas law: n = = 0.39 mol.
R×T 8,31×293
3.5. We saw (question 2.3) that 1.5 moles of dihydrogen are needed: the tank is not sufficient.
for a battery life of 12 hours.
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It is not harmful to the environment.
The disadvantages of the LFP battery are:
The cost of obtaining 1 W·h of energy is high.
Its mass energy is not the greatest compared to its competitors.
1.2. 12.8
= 4 so the battery consists of 4 associated cells
3.2
in series:
2.3.
2.4.
1.2. In the wires, it is the electrons that are responsible for the passage of the
current.
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1.3.
During discharge, the current flows out of the positive terminal of the battery to enter through
the negative terminal: electrons move in the opposite direction of the current.
1.5. At the pole -, during the discharge, there is production of electrons: it is therefore a
oxidation (loss of electrons).
E E
Emassive = so m =
m Emassive
These batteries are therefore heavier than Li-Ion, so with Ni-MH batteries,
the device, heavier, will not be able to operate as long as with Li-
ion.
2.3. Li-Ion batteries have no memory effect: they can be recharged even if they
are not "empty".
Li-Ion batteries are more powerful than Ni-MH.
Li-Ion batteries have a higher volumetric energy than Ni-MH: for
with the same energy, they are less bulky.
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