Fuel Cell – Definition, Working of Fuel Cell, Types and Advantages

What is a Fuel Cell?

Fuel Cell – Definition: A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electrical energy. The fuel can be a solid, liquid, or gas. The most common type of fuel cell uses hydrogen as the fuel.

Working of Fuel Cell

A fuel cell is a device that uses a chemical reaction to create electricity. The reactants are stored on opposite sides of a membrane. When the reactants are mixed, they create an electric current. The fuel cell can be used to create electricity for a variety of purposes, including powering a vehicle.

Block Diagram of the Fuel Cell

The block diagram of the fuel cell shows the various components of the fuel cell and how they interact. The fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and a stack of cells. The anode is where the fuel is introduced and the cathode is where the oxygen is introduced. The stack of cells is where the chemical reaction takes place to produce electricity. The hydrogen and oxygen gas flow through the anode and cathode, respectively, and the electricity is produced as the gases react in the stack of cells. The block diagram also shows the various electrical components of the fuel cell, such as the power controller and the DC-DC converter. The power controller controls the amount of power that is produced by the fuel cell and the DC-DC converter converts the DC power to a form that can be used by electronic devices.

Types of Fuel Cells

There are many types of fuel cells, but the most common are proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).

• PEMFCs are the most common type of fuel cell and are used in many applications, such as cars and buses. They use a proton-exchange membrane to separate the hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel, and the membrane allows protons to pass through it, while the electrons are forced to travel through an external circuit. This creates an electrical current.
• AFCs are a type of fuel cell that use an alkaline electrolyte and are often used in large-scale power generation. They are more efficient than PEMFCs and can operate at higher temperatures, making them a good choice for larger applications.
• PAFCs are a type of fuel cell that use a phosphoric acid electrolyte. They are often used in stationary power applications, such as large-scale power plants. PAFCs are efficient and can operate at high temperatures, making them a good choice for larger applications.
• MCFCs are a type of fuel cell that use a molten carbonate electrolyte. They are often used in stationary power applications, such as large-scale power plants. MCFCs are efficient and can operate at high temperatures, making

The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell

• Fuel cells convert the chemical energy in a fuel such as hydrogen into electricity. There are many types of fuel cells, but the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the most common.
• In a PEM fuel cell, the fuel is electrochemically converted into electricity by a membrane-bound catalyst. The membrane allows positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) to pass through it, while blocking the electrons. The electrons travel through an external circuit, creating an electrical current.

The reactants and products of the reaction are as follows:

• Reactants: hydrogen and oxygen
• Products: water and electricity

Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell

• A phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) is a type of fuel cell that uses phosphoric acid as the electrolyte and fuel.
• PAFCs were first developed in the early 1960s, and were among the first types of fuel cells to be commercialized. They are currently used in a number of applications, including backup power and motive power.
• PAFCs are typically composed of a fuel cell stack, a power conditioning unit, and a fuel processor. The fuel cell stack uses a phosphoric acid electrolyte to convert the chemical energy in the fuel into electrical energy. The power conditioning unit is used to control the voltage and current supplied to the stack, and the fuel processor is used to convert the fuel into a form that can be used by the stack.
• PAFCs are typically fueled with natural gas, propane, or diesel fuel.

Solid Acid Fuel Cell

A PEM fuel cell using sulfuric acid as the electrolyte.

Advantages

• High power density
• Low emissions
• Efficient
• Low operating temperature

Disadvantages

• High cost
• toxicity of sulfuric acid

Alkaline Fuel Cell

An alkaline fuel cell (AFC) is a type of fuel cell that uses an alkaline electrolyte.

• The alkaline fuel cell was first developed in the early 1960s by Francis T. Bacon at the United States Naval Research Laboratory.
• An alkaline fuel cell uses an alkaline electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH), to produce electricity from a fuel, such as hydrogen. The electrolyte is a liquid that conducts electricity. The fuel cell has two electrodes, a cathode and an anode. The fuel is fed to the anode, and the oxygen is fed to the cathode. The electrolyte separates the hydrogen ions and the oxygen ions. The hydrogen ions pass through the electrolyte to the cathode, and the oxygen ions pass through the electrolyte to the anode. At the cathode, the hydrogen ions and the oxygen atoms combine to form water, and electricity is generated. The voltage of an alkaline fuel cell is about 1.2 volts.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

• Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a type of fuel cell that uses a solid oxide as the electrolyte.
• Solid oxide fuel cells are a type of fuel cell that uses a solid oxide as the electrolyte. SOFCs are a relatively new technology and are not yet commercially available. However, they have a number of potential advantages over other types of fuel cells, including high efficiency, low emissions, and the ability to use a variety of fuels.
• Solid oxide fuel cells operate at a high temperature, typically around 800 degrees Celsius. This high operating temperature allows the cells to achieve high efficiencies, up to 50% or more. In comparison, fuel cells that use a proton exchange membrane (PEM) as the electrolyte typically have efficiencies of around 35%.
• Solid oxide fuel cells also have the ability to use a variety of fuels, including hydrocarbons, natural gas, and biogas. This versatility makes them a good option for applications where a specific fuel is not available.
• One potential downside of solid oxide fuel cells is their high cost. However, as the technology continues to develop, the cost is likely to come down.

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

• A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is a fuel cell in which the electrolyte is a molten carbonate salt, typically sodium or potassium carbonate.
• The molten carbonate fuel cell operates at high temperatures (650-700 degrees Celsius), which allows the electrolyte to remain in a liquid state and permits the use of a variety of fuels, including natural gas, propane, and diesel fuel.
• Molten carbonate fuel cells are more efficient than other types of fuel cells and can be used to generate electricity for a wide range of applications, including homes, businesses, and vehicles.

What are the Advantages of Fuel Cells?

Fuel cells have a number of advantages over traditional combustion engines. Some of these advantages include:

• Fuel cells are more efficient than traditional engines, meaning they produce more power per unit of fuel.
• Fuel cells do not produce emissions, which makes them environmentally friendly.
• Fuel cells are quiet and produce little vibration, making them ideal for use in vehicles or other applications where noise and vibration must be minimized.
• Fuel cells are often smaller and lighter than traditional engines, making them more versatile and portable.
• Fuel cells can be used to generate power for a variety of applications, including vehicles, homes, and businesses.