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Fuel CellsBy:Rishab PohanePranav SubramanianAayush Verma
What is a fuel cell?● “Electrochemical energy conversion device”● Converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, heat, and
water● Similar to batteries, but never die
o “Gas battery”
How does it work?● Convert chemical energy into
electrical energy● Fuel cells combine the chemicals
hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity (water is also produced)
● The hydrogen is usually in the form of a fuel while the oxygen is taken from the air
● Use electrical energy to do mechanical work
● Provide DC voltage to electrical appliances
http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/images/fc_ani.gif
Different Types of Fuel Cells● Depends on electrolyte that is used.
● Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)● Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)● Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)● Phosphoric acid (PAFC)● Molten carbonate (MCFC)
Different Types of Fuel Cells
Applications● Best used where both heat and power are needed● Provide electricity and drinking water for the astronauts● Car engine
Toyota Mirai Mars Flyer
Advantages● Clean energy (no pollution)● Relatively simple maintenance
o No moving parts● Very long operating times● Tolerant of varied temperatures● Can be placed nearly anywhere● Higher efficiency than oil or gasoline
Comparisons
Car Type Chemical Energy => Electrical Energy (% efficient)
Electrical Energy => MechanicalWork(% efficient)
Other Operations (% efficient)
Overall Efficiency (%)
Pure Hydrogen Fuel Cell
80 80 - 64
Gasoline Powered
35 42 - 15
Battery Powered
72 40 90 30 (can be 65)
Disadvantages● Pure hydrogen works best but gas needs to be enriched● Large size and weight● Expensive● Not very durable● Hard to maintain hydration● Infrastructure not available
Roadblocks● Complex chemical process
o Some fuel cells require the molecules traveling through the membrane to have full purity
o Some fuel cells require pumps
● Energy company opposition● Not economically viable yet
o Not efficient enough to replace conventional methods of generating power
Expenses● $55/kWh
Generating Cost● $500B to create hydrogen infrastructure● $4.50 per GGe from natural gas● $6-11per GGe from renewable energy
Target Market● Automobiles● Factories● Cities● Space programs
Fuel cell used by NASA’s Space Shuttle Orbiter
Future● America’s oil dependence will continually increase● Already 1 Billion spent on fuel cell research● Fuel cell cost has dropped by 50 percent since 2006● 7.2 M investment plan● 2015 - Fuel cell cars
Countries using Fuel CellsINTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HYDROGEN ECONOMY
● Australia
● Brazil
● Canada
● China
● European Commission
● France
● Germany
● India
● Italy
● Japan
● Korea
● New Zealand
● Norway
● Russian Federation
● Iceland
● United Kingdom
● United States
Payback Period● 3 years● Relatively large initial cost● Consumer price for electricity cut using fuel cells● More power generated than fossil fuel plant
Why are fuel cells not common?
● Building fuel cells is not difficult BUT...
● Inexpensive● Efficient● Reliable● .. that’s difficult
Fun FactElon Musk says cars running on fuel cells are “extremely silly”
Sources Cited● http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/fuel_cells_power.html● http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell.htm● http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/about-fuel-cells/benefits● http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/12974/title/fuel-cells-for-cle
an-generation-and-short-payback.aspx● http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/01/fuel-cell-economics-vs-batteries/● http://www.economist.com/topics/fuel-cells