Ton Duc Thang University

Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

401076
RENEWABLE ENERGY

Chapter 8:

FUEL CELLS

Nguyen Dao, PhD.

OBJECTIVES

- Explaining the fundamental

principles of energy from fuel
cell source
- Presenting the knowledge of
energy from fuel cell

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 OUTLINE

8.1 Basic Fuel Cell Operation

8.2 Types of Fuel Cells
8.3 Vehicle Applications
8.4 Stationary Fuel Cell Application

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION

1. Introduction of Hydrogen
H2- Exist in nature in water, in organic
compounds, in fossil fuels, in living organisms.
H2- Used in petrochemical industry, fertilizer, food
industry ...
H2- Produced from petroleum and natural gas,
world produces 170 million tons/year

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
2. Oxidation reduction
reactions
- Oxidation reduction of
hydrogen:
2H2 + O2 <-> 2H2O + energy
-Fuel cell: device that
converts electrochemical
energy into DC voltage.
Fuel cells combine a fuel-H2 with oxi(O2).
Products of fuel cell: electrical and heat energy,
and water.
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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
.
3.Structure of FC: 1. Anode. 2. Cathode 3.Electrolyte

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
4. FC System
. 3 basic parts:-FC Stack: group of FC;
- -Fuel processing unit-FPU;
- -Heat recover system

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
. 4. FC System
a-FC Stack: group of FC
-Connected more cells to
increase volume, and
parallel to increase
Current (Vcell =1,16VDC)
-Number cells in stack
requirement of load

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
. 4. FC System:
-b-Fuel processing unit
Unit converting input fuel
into hydrogen

c-Heat recovery system

Temperature > 600-7000C:
using heat to electricity
Temperature < 6000C:
using heat to heating or conditioning air
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 5. Renerative FC

Production hydrogen from renewable el. energy:

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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
6. Using Carbon nanotubes are FC development trends
.
-FC used a platinum electrode (70% of the cost of FC- Pt-
very hight cost).
-to reduce mass of platinum into 0.2g Pt/kW(=20%);
technology?
+ Use nano platinum or nano Niken:
- Clinging nano platinum, nano Niken to carbon nanotube.
- Nanoparticles to thinner coating on electrode of FC
- Nano technology to create more efficient for FC
-Array of nano platinum or nano Niken clinging to carbon
nanotube use as electrode in some FC (University of
Dayton in Ohio) 401076-Chapter 8: Fuel Cells 11
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 8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION

7.The advantages of fuel cells:

-High efficiency (40% to 70% more electricity,
and more than 85% for electricity and heat.)
-not rotary motors, moving mechanical parts,
thus increasing lifespan and reliability.
-high temperatures of FC can be used turbines
or hot steam applications
-FC vehicles are indeed an option for the future.

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8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 1. Proton exchange
membrane fuel cell-PEMFC
Input; H2 and O2 in air
Output: electricity and hot
water
electrode: Pt,
electrolyte: Proton exchange
polymer membrane
Temperature: 50-1000C
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8.1 BASIC FUEL CELL OPERATION
.
1. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell-PEMFC
Operation
+ In Anode: H2 oxidized: 2H2-> (4H+) + (4e-)
e- is released from the anode through the external
circuit (DC) to the cathode.
+ In Cathode: H+ move across the Electrolyte
(H + passing only) to cathode + O2 and e- -> H2O:
O2 + (4H+) + (4e-) -> 2H2O
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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
*
2. Direct methanol (CH3OH) Fuel
cell- DMFC
(H2 is extracted from the methanol
and produced in Fuel processing
unit-FPU);
Input: H2(from FPU) and O2 in Air
Output: Electricity and hot water
Electrode: Pt;
Electrolyte: polymer membrane;
temperature range: 50-1200C,
power rating: 25-5000 W.
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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 3. Alkaline fuel cell-AFC
-Input: H2 and pure O2
-Output: Electrical energy and
hot water at anode
-Electrode: nickel (lower cost
metal);
-Electrolyte: Liquid solution KOH
-temperature range: 100-2500C,
-efficient: 60-70%;

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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 3.Alkaline fuel cell-AFC
Operation:
+ At the anode: H2 -> (H+) + (2e -)
->e- go out to the outer circuit to
generate electricity.
+ At the cathode: O2 + (2e-) ->
2(O-2) -> goes to the electrolyte
+In the electrolyte: 2 reactions:
(O-2) + 2 (H+) -> 2(OH-)
& (H+) + (OH-) -> H2O -> to the
anode.
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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
4. Solid oxide fuel cell-
SOFC
Input: H2 and O2 in air
-Output: Electrical energy
and hot water at anode
-Electrode: nickel
-Electrolyte: oxide based
ceramic of lithium (liti) or
potassium K carbonates
temperature: 800-10000C

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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
4. Solid oxide fuel cell-SOFC -
Operation:
Anode:
H2 -> (2H+) +(2e- to electricity)
Cathode: O2 + (2e-) -> 2(O-2)
-> goes to the electrolyte
Electrolyte: (O-2) + (H+) -> H2O
(use CH4 gas in Fuel processing
unit:
CH4 + 2H2O -> 4H2 + CO2)
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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL

4. Solid oxide fuel cell-SOFC

Fuel cell use hydrogen of hydrocarbon gas converted into
hydrogen

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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 5. Molten carbonate fuel
cell-MCFC
Input:H2 and O2 + CO2
Output: hot water and
electricity
Operates temperature: 600-
7000C
The electrolyte: solution of
sodium Na or potassium K
carbonates
The electrode: nickel
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 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 5. Molten carbonate fuel
cell-MCFC
Operation:
anode: H2-> 2H+ + 4e-
electrolyte: (H+) +(CO3-2)
->H2O +CO2 (to input)
cathode: CO2 + O2 + 4e-
->CO3-2
11/24/24 (process continues)
401076-Chapter 8: Fuel Cells 22
 8.2 TYPES OF FUEL CELL
* 6. Summary of fuel cell
FC Type Electrolyte temp,0C El. eff.%
PEMFC Polymer membrane 50-100 25-58
DMFC Polymer membrane 50-120 25-40
PAFC Liquid phosphoric acid 150- 200 40-50
AFC Liquid KOH 100-250 60-70
SOFC Solid oxide based 600-1000 35- 43
ceramic of lithium or
potassium carbonates
MCFC liquid of lithium or 600-700 45-47
potassium K
carbonates
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 8.3 VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
* 1.Fuel cell electric
vehicle-FCEV
FCEV have been tested
since the early 1990.
The FCEV used fuel cell
to produce electrical
power for an electric
drive motor. (10 kg H2
->800 km of FCEV
1 lit =30 kg H2 at 350bar)
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 8.3 VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
* 1. Fuel cell electric vehicle-FCEV

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 8.3 VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
*1. Fuel cell electric vehicle-FCEV

Large transit bus powered by fuel cell

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 8.3 VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
2. Fuel cell powered working vehicles

New Holland NH2 fuel cell Forklift powered by Hydro fuel

powered tractor cell

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 8.4 STATIONARY FUEL CELL
APPLICATION
3. Stationary fuel cell
Stationary fuel cell Samsung: Pure Cell 400-
4,8MW

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 8.4 STATIONARY FUEL CELL
APPLICATION
3. Stationary fuel cell in Koria 11,2 MW
Stationary fuel cell Samsung: Pure Cell 400-
4,8MW

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 8.4 STATIONARY FUEL CELL
APPLICATION
3.Stationary fuel cell in Belgum 1 MW
Stationary fuel cell Samsung: Pure Cell 400-
4,8MW

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 8.4 STATIONARY FUEL CELL
APPLICATION
*

The Stationary fuel cell plant for backup power

to Grid
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 SUMMARY

In this chapter, we have learnt:

- Basic Fuel Cell Operation
-Types of Fuel Cells
-Vehicle Applications
-Stationary Fuel Cell Application

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 HOMEWORK
Explaining the stationary fuel cell application

Reading assignment:
[1]: 87-140,[5]: 37-57.

Natural gas is considered to be the most suitable fuel for fuel cell equipment in
power plants and for smaller appliances used in homes. The results of BUND's
comparative study show that recycled hydrogen is still the most ecologically-
friendly way, but even so, Nitrous oxides tripled and sulfur compounds were
reduced
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