Fuel Cells

The Fuel Cell A Need for Change

Battery technologies are not keeping pace with demand

Battery life Miniaturization

Global warming A Possible Solution

Fuel Cell: A device that uses hydrogen (or a hydrogen-rich fuel) and oxygen to create an electric current

What Fuel Cells Do

Combustion engines like the turbine and the gasoline engine burn fuels and use the pressure created by the expansion of the gases to do mechanical work. Batteries converted chemical energy back into electrical energy when needed. Fuel cells should do both tasks more efficiently

How Fuel Cells Work Hydrogen molecules

are delivered to the anode side of the fuel cell

Electrons are stripped from the molecules and forced to travel through a circuit, producing electricity

The leftover protons pass through the fuel cell and are recombined with the lost electrons on the cathode side, producing water molecules

Chemical energy of fuel and oxidizer

Combustionchamber

Fuel cell

Heat

Turbine or engine

Mechanicalenergy

Electricgenerator

Electric current

FC is an electrochemical device in which the energy of fuel and oxidant continuously supplied to electrodes is directly converted into electricity without low-efficient combustion process.

As there is no heat/power conversion in these devices, their energy efficiency is much higher than that of traditional power units, and can reach 90%.

Fuel Cells Vs Conventional Power Sources

How much hydrogen?

Transportation: gasoline yields 40 kJ/g average annual use: 500 gallons (4000

kg) energy use in one year: 1.6 108 kJ H2 yields 250 kJ/g, need 640 kg H2

Electricity: average annual energy use: 1.5 107 kJ H2 yields 250 kJ/g, need 60 kg H2

EACH PERSON IN US NEEDS ~700 KG OF H2!!

Sources of Hydrogen

Hydrocarbons: Oxidation: CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O Still produces CO2!! Syn-gas: 2 CH4 + O2 2 CO + 4 H2

Produces CO that must be converted to CO2!!

Electrolysis of water remember H2 + O2 H2O, E = 1.23 V can be reversed H2O H2 + O2

Requires large amounts of energy!!

What does that mean?

WaterwasteWaterwasteElectricityElectricity

Supply ofHydrogenSupply ofHydrogen

A Timeline: Fuel Cell Implementation

1993: Ballard Power Systems launches first proof-of-concept hydrogen fuel cell bus, Vancouver

1996: Daimler Benz and Toyota are first major companies to unveil prototype fuel cell-powered passenger cars

2000: Ballard Power Systems unveils world’s first production-ready fuel cell for automotive use

2001: Honda opens the first hydrogen production and fueling station in Torrance, CA

2004: The World’s first fuel cell-powered submarine undergoes deep-water trials

MTI Micro Fuel Cells introduces a proof-of-concept fuel cell that runs handheld devices

1993: Ballard Power Systems launches first proof-of-concept hydrogen fuel cell bus in Vancouver

1970: Karl Kordesch builds the first practical fuel cell car

1965: NASA uses alkaline fuel cell in Apollo space missions

Late 1950’s: Allis-Chambers Manufacturing Co. demonstrates 20 hp fuel cell-powered tractor

1839: Sir William Grove invents the first fuel cell

Fuel Cells vs. Batteries Designed to be continuously powered

Fuel source can be re-supplied without interrupting power

Unlike batteries, the fuel source is not contained inside the fuel cell - increases shelf life and decreases time before replacement is necessary

Produces water waste only Environmentally friendly - companies such

as Dell must currently offer recycling programs for batteries in order to comply with government environmental regulations

More efficient than batteries

Benefits of Fuel Cells Environmental Reasons

Driving force Lowered emissions Less noisy

Higher quality Can be programmed for 99.999% uptime

More reliable On site No movable parts

More Benefits

Increased Efficiency Up to 80% with pure

Hydrogen With reformer about ~24-

32% Gasoline ~20% Battery-Powered ~26%

with recharging Distributed Generation Flexible Technology

Portable Modular

Some Limitations

Hydrogen: Not readily available, must use other

energy sources to convert Infrastructure not in place Difficult to store/distribute

High Capital Cost Non-technical barriers

Could have dramatic impact

Oil Industry & Hydrogen

Shell Royal Dutch Group $13 billion in capital investments for oil

production and exploration, while only having $243 million invested in all alternative energies combined.

Often recognized as a leading alternative energy conscious oil company.

Why is Shell involved in alternative energies?

Automotive Industry & Hydrogen

GM and others are looking to capitalize on the next generation of cars After enormous success of rivals like

Honda and Toyota with hybrid vehicles GM, along with other domestic

automotive makers Face serious threats of bankruptcy,

making a large R&D push difficult. Rivals such as Toyota and Honda are

already ahead of GM and Ford

•A 30 ft. Hydrogen Fuel cell powered transit bus made by Ballard Power Systems in Canada.

•It has a 275 horsepower engine, and a range of 250 miles before requiring refueling.

•The only emission from this bus is warm, moist air.

Honda FCX

Operates between -20C and 95C.

Honda has also built a hydrogen production and filling station prototype.

Ford FCV

Driving range 100 miles.

H2 Fuel Cell

Ford H2RV

H2 Internal Combustion Enginehybrid with electric motor.

Driving Range 125 miles.

Future2015 – 2025- Substantial markets for

hydrogen-powered vehicles likely to start developing

2020: 5 to 10 million hydrogen-powered cars

2030: 50 million hydrogen powered cars

2040: 150 million hydrogen-powered cars