An introduction to fuel cell technology and economics. Investigation of potential fuel cell use in aircraft there is increasing interest, in both military and commercial environments, in moreelectric airplanes. Fuel cells produce electricity as long as fuel is supplied. The material used for the electrolyte and the design of the supporting structure determine the type and performance of the fuel cell. Reaction engineering of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells a new approach to elucidate the operation and control of polymer electrolyte membrane pem fuel cells is being developed. Fuel cells by vijay ramani fuel cells are electrochemical devices that directly convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
Fuel cells are in commercial service throughout the world, providing thermal energy and electricity to power the grid, homes, and businesses. An overview of fuel cells currently under development. Individual fuel cells that are combined in series to increase the power generated. Fuel cells for portable applications currently in development will. Global fuel cell market includes pemfc, sofc, and dmfc as key product segments. The intermediate temperature solidstate fuel cell section is being developed. Box 880 morgantown, west virginia 265070880 november 2004. The fuel cells are intended to complement the existing diesel generator, which is used to deliver power to the three phase system and to charge the batteries used for the low. Increasing the number of cells increases the voltage. Now that would be an interesting alternative to the internal combustion engines we now use in our cars.
An introduction to fuel cells and hydrogen technology 2 dioxide fig. Fuel cells introduction fuel cells generate electricity from an electrochemical reaction in which oxygen from air and a fuel e. They produce electricity via an electrochemical process. Fuel cell efficiency since fuel cells use materials that are typically burnt to release their energy,gy, y the fuel cell efficiency is described as the ratio of the electrical energy produced to the heat that is produced by burning the fuel its enthalpy of formation or. The electricity produced can be used to power cars, buses, laptops and mobile phones. First, calculation examples for fuel cells are included for the wide variety of possible applications. Grove utilized four cells, each containing hydrogen and oxygen, to produce electric power which was then used to split the water in the smaller upper cell into hydrogen and oxygen. Preliminary remarks fuel cells as electrochemical engines generic fuel cell and stack classification of fuel cells potential fuel cell applications an. Regenerative fuel cells can also be used with solar power or other sources of electricity to split water produced as a byproduct into hydrogen. A fuel cell is defined as an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy to.
About 470 million, over a six year period, have been granted by the. Investigation of potential fuel cell use in aircraft. Fullupfront funding for nonlab financial assistance projects selected from foas. Figure 1 illustrates the process for fuelcell energy fce molten carbonate fuel cells mcfc. These are devices that, by definition, have an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide as. The performance of a fuel cell device can be summarized with a graph of its current. Characterization and modeling are pivotal to the development and advancement of fuel cell. In the first half of the 20th century, there were isolated attempts to develop fcs, such as by francis t. In the1960s, international fuel cells in windsor connecticut developed a fuel cell power. Fuel cells are electrical batteries that are characterised by the active materials on the electrodes being replenished continuously. Briefing papers for state policymakers fuel cell technology 3 fuel cell technology. In both batteries and fuel cells two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, are separated by an electrolyte. A global reactor engineering approach is applied to pem fuel cells to identify the essential physics that govern the dynamics in pem fuel cells.
Fuel cells are mainly classified by the characteristics affecting their performance like the type of catalysts, electrolyte used, the fuel required and temperaturerange 1, 2. Grove utilized four cells, each containing hydrogen and oxygen, to produce electric power which was then used to split the water in. Transient behavior is a key requirement for the success of fuel cell vehicles. In its simplest form, a pem fuel cell is two electrodesthe anode and the cathodeseparated by a catalystcoated membrane. A cross section of a typical fuel cell is shown in fig. A single fuel cell produces barely enough voltage for even the smallest applications. Each of these topics is discussed in more detail in the current state of the industry chapter. This chapter provides a brief overview of fuel cell technology. The industry is further categorized on application basis as stationary, portable, and transport. This site is like a library, you could find million book here by using search box in the header. Then, an overview of the major fuel cell types and their characteristics is. Department of energy has been supporting research and development of fuel cell technology, and as a result, hundreds of. Bacon, who started his alkaline fuel cell afc development in 1932 and presented a practical 5 kw system in 1959. It can also operate in a temperature that is lower than the cells normal operating temperature.
Alternative sources of energy an introduction to fuel cells. First, it briefly discusses the basic principle of fuel cells. It has formed the solid state energy conversion alliance seca, a governmentindustry partnership to achieve that goal. Residential fuel cell applications in the residential sector have constantly. Alkaline fuel cells use an electrolyte that is an aqueous waterbased solution of potassium hydroxide koh retained in a porous stabilized. As fuel use has developed through time, the percentage of hydrogen content in the fuels has increased. The power produced by a fuel cell depends on several factors, including the fuel cell type, size, temperature at which it operates, and pressure at which gases are supplied. We therefore split the tlp in two and consider high temperature cells separately from low temperature cells. Fuel cells are mainly classified by the characteristics affecting their performance like the type of catalysts, electrolyte used. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel often hydrogen and an oxidizing agent often oxygen into electricity through a. Putting fuel cells to the test fuel cells are often described as a continuously operating battery.
Fuel cells have been the energy source aboard each manned space flight in the u. Department of energy office of fossil energy national energy technology laboratory p. Fuel cell engine technology hydrogen fuel cell engines and related technologies. For most fuel cell systems, the fuel is hydrogen, which can be extracted by several procedures from many hydrogenbearing substances, including alcohols, natural gas mainly methane, gasoline, and water. There are important and perhaps unresolved technical problems associated with using fuel cells to power vehicles. The first electro chemical fuel cell was invented in 1839, however, it wasnt until the 1960s space program that practical applications were realized.
A notable difference between rechargeable batteries and fuel cells is that a fuel cell needs a continuous supply of fuel. It is well known that individual servers exhibit abrupt and large power consumption uctuations due to variation in workload 59. Methanol, ethanol and sodium borohydride 24 british pounds, 20 pounds if ordering four or more cells a remarkably small fuel cell, it is designed for demonstrating and explaining fuel cells, and for a wide range of chemistry experiments. Fuel cell technology can be characterized in terms of key parameters in order to evaluate the technology. The cathode of one cell is connected the the anode of the next cell. They are generally classified on the basis of the electrolyte used, because the electrolyte determines the operating temperature of a system and in part the kind of fuel that can be employed. Fuel cell handbook, fourth edition technical report. By utilizing the fuel cell dc output, 53% energy efficiency in a single server rack can be achieved. Fuel cells are generally classified according to the nature of the electrolyte except for direct methanol fuel cells which are named for their ability to use methanol as a fuel, each type requiring particular materials and fuel. Like other fuel cells, regenerative fuel cells produce electricity from oxygen and hydrogen and emit heat and water as byproducts. Low efficiency fuel crossover expensive catalyst 10xpt amount meoh wpoisonous example system bus m o t o r e e t c. It seems a natural progression that the fuel of the future will be 100% hydrogen. On the other hand, typical fuel cells are designed for relatively steady load.
We also carry out cost analysis to quantify the cost savings that could be achieved with fuel cells placed in each rack. Fuel cells efficiently convert diverse fuels directly into electricity without combustion, and they are key elements of a broad portfolio for building a competitive, secure. The current produced by a fuel cell scales with the size of the reaction area where the reactants, the electrode, and the electrolyte meet. Basically fuel cell in common language, is a device which converts chemical energy from a fuel into electrical energy. The result is a highly reliable facts and figures for engineers, resarchers and decison makers working in the field of fuel cells in particular and energy systems in general. Key parameter description upfront cost the cost of producing fuel cells in volume is unknown. Capable of running on a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, natural gas, and biogas, fuel cells can provide clean power for applications ranging from less than a watt to multiple megawatts.
Nov, 2016 fuel cells types, working, construction, fabrication and application 1. These key parameters with descriptions are presented in table 1. Afcs are among the most efficient in generating electricity at nearly 70%. Both batteries and fuel cells convert chemical potential energy into electrical energy and also, as a byproduct of this process, into heat energy. Fuel cells operating on biogas offer a pathway to renewable electricity generation. Pdf fuel cell technology handbook download full pdf. Like renewable energy technologies, fuel cells are eligible for the 30% federal invest. Multiyear research, development and demonstration plan page 3.
The idea for this thesis was to design a specification of requirements for a fuel cell system for the electric power production in a 77foot sailing ship named ts prolific. Fuel cells incorporate an anode and a cathode, with an electrolyte in between, similar to a battery. Extraction of the energy proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The fuel cell system power response is limited only by the air and hydrogen feed. Fuel cells are a promising alternative power source to provide the electric power for the more electric aircraft, both manned and unmanned. The fuel cells on board these spacecraft provide electrical power for onboard systems, as well as drinking water. Stationary fuel cell power systems with direct fuelcell. A pem fuel cell combines hydrogen fuel with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. For portable fuel cells, methanol and ethanol can be supplied to the fuel cell as fuel or a. Lets take a closer look at the mea and its three components. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel often hydrogen and an oxidizing agent often oxygen into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells fuel cells are the most energy efficient devices for extracting power from fuels.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed. The fuel cells composed of nicgo as the anode, cgo as the electrolyte and la0. Fuel cells already have a stronghold in a growing corner of the energy market. Fuel cells have the potential of being able to achieve energy conversion efficiencies in the range of 2840%.
Department of chemical engineering and biotechnology. Design of a fuel cell system chalmers publication library cpl. To compete with the ice engines, however, fuel cell systems must operate and function at least as well as conventional engine. This section aims to publish cuttingedge research related to fuel cells within materials science and engineering, physics, chemistry and electrochemistry.
An introduction to fuel cells and hydrogen technology by brian cook, heliocentris vancouver, canada whereas the 19th century was the century of the steam engine and the 20th century was the century of the internal combustion engine, it is likely that the 21st century will be the century of the fuel cell. The hydrogen may be produced directly from methanol, natural gas or other simple organic compounds in a reformer connected to the battery on site. A fuel cell stack is made up of many pem fuel cells that are. The impact of fuel cells fuel cells could have a great positive effect on western society they would reduce dependence on oil import pollution disadvantages currently cost prohibitive require a new hydrogen infrastructure. In addition, the handbook includes a separate section on alkaline fuel cells. Each fuel cell type also has its own operational characteristics, offering advantages to particular applications. Putting fuel cells to the test european commission. This handbook provides a foundation in fuel cells for persons wanting a better understanding. Fuel cells northern highlands regional hs overview. A main technical challenge for using fuel cells to power computing devices is to handle load following. Recognizing the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells, president bush announced the hydrogen fuel initiative hfi in his 2003 state of the union address to accelerate the research, development, and demonstration of technologies for fuel cell vehicles and the hydrogen fuel infrastructure to.
Read online an introduction to fuel cells and hydrogen technology book pdf free download link book now. Further, the paper looks to introduce both the technical and economic issues facing the introduction of this technology. Liquid fuel easy and fast fuelling easy and compact fuel storage disadvantages. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. Fuel cells types, working, construction, fabrication and. Principles of operation a fuel cell works much like a battery. The rationale for preparing such a report is that the topic is an important aspect of the nations energy policysa topic that physicists justifiably feel competent to discuss. Trigeneration of electricity, heat, and hydrogen offers. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device a galvanic cell which converts free energy of a chemical reaction into electrical energy electricity. First fuel cellfirst fuel cell 3 in 1839, william grove, a british jurist and amateur physicist, first discovered the principle of the fuel cell. The technology collaboration programme on the research, development and demonstration on advanced fuel cells advanced fuel cells technology collaboration programme, afc tcp functions within a framework created by the international energy agency iea.
Fuel cells a realistic alternative for zero emission. Fuel cell, any of a class of devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electricity by electrochemical reactions. Fuel cells are also used in vehicles, such as forklifts, automobiles, trucks, buses, and other land, marine, air, and space equipment. Because of their high conversion efficiency, reduced pollution and low noise, fuel cells in the future can play a major role. A fuel cell is like a battery in that it generates electricity from an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that use hydrogen. A fuel cell resembles a battery in many respects, but it can supply electrical energy over a much longer period of time.
Increasing the surface area of the cells increases the current. A fuel cell is an electrochemical machine that generates electricity by a chemical reaction making a hydrogen fuel react with some oxidizing agent. Residential fuel cells will play an important role in the future distributed generation system. The fuel cells and hydrogen joint undertaking fch ju has the ambitious objective to place europe at the forefront of the development, commercialization and deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies, as of 2015.
We evaluate and characterize the performance and the dynamic load following capability of the fuel cell. They consist of an electrolyte medium sandwiched between two electrodes fig. Fuel cells an introduction by jens oluf jensen, dtu and erik henneso, danish power systems dps version 2, 2017 what is a fuel cell. Hydrogen enters the anode channels, permeates the gas diffusion layer and undergoes. Since 1984, the office of transportation technologies at the u. This includes transportation and auxiliary power applications for the first time. Residential fuel cells for distributed generation 3 distributed heating grid. Individual cells are joined in series into stacks, anode to cathode bipolar plate, to increase the voltage output. Technologies and applications the open fuel cells journal, 20, volume 6 7 the function of this structure is to act as an electrolyte ionic conduction and a separator between oxygen.
The overall fuel cell reaction is also known as the faradic reaction. Previous popa studies have been on nuclear energy, energy supplies, etc. The system also has strong potential of a major power source in the coming hydrogen society. They have nearzero emissions, are quiet and eicient, can work in almost any environment and do not need a grid for distribution.
Introduction to fuel cells fuel cell engines wiley. One electrode called the anode facilitates electrochemical oxidation of fuel, while the other called the cathode promotes. Some fuel types that have been used with fuel cells include metal hydrides, methanol, formic acid, ethanol, and of course, hydrogen. Reaction engineering of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen usually from air to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes. The ratio of the fuel used by the cell to generate electric current versus the total fuel provided to the cell. Different types and sizes of fuel cells are suitable for distributed generation based on residential sector. Advances in nanotechnology are speeding up that growth by making fuel cells cheaper, smaller, more efficient and coolerrunning. Pemfc dominated with 60% of global revenue in 2015. Fuel cells offer a highly efficient way to use diverse energy sources and, as a result, have demonstrated lower energy use and emissions when compared with conventional technologies.
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