Fuel Cell Technology Introduction

Bhavesh Ramchandra Javale

Research Engineer, ARAI, Pune
 Mobility
• Mobility
• Movement of people & Material for their Living
• In the present form leads following issues:
Air Quality
Global Warming
Energy Security
 Sustainable Mobility
Global Challenges Requirements for Vehicle
FACTS CONSEQUENCES CUSTOMER

Increasing world Development of new Consumption Manufacturing cost

population technologies Driving
Safety pleasure
Increasing Efficient use of
energy demand energy Operating
Emissions cost
Limited energy Use of all
supplies energy carriers Noise Sound

Environmental Use of environment Recycling Resources

effects of energy use protecting technologies

Main Focus

Reduction in Resource Consumption

Reduction of Emission
Digital Age Transportation Solution
 Combustion Engines
Battery

Chemical Electrical
Energy Energy

Generator
Combustion

Heat Mechanical
Energy Energy
Engine
 Fuel Cells

Chemical Electrical
Energy Energy
What is Fuel Cell ?
 What's the difference between
Battery & Fuel Cell ?

• Both are Galvanic Cells

• Converts chemical energy of reactants directly to electrical energy by
electrochemical means
• Structure
• Cathode
• Anode
• Electrolyte
Does that mean both are same?
Battery is a energy conversion & storage device, where as fuel cell is an energy
conversion device.
 Types of Fuel Cells
Fuel cells can be divided on the basis of temperature
ranges and electrolyte membrane used :
Temperature Basis: Electrolyte Basis:
1. Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)
1. High Temperature FC 2. Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells
(PAFC)
3. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)
2. Low Temperature FC
4. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
(MCFC)
5. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
(DMFC)
6. Proton Exchange Membrane
Fuel Cells (PEMFC)
Comparison of Fuel Cells
Types of Fuel Cells
Structure of Proton Exchange Membrane
Fuel Cells

Component Material Function

Membrane Perfluro sulphonic acid Proton (H+)
coated on ethylene Conduction
(Nafion)

Catalyst Platinum Catalysis

Gas Carbon Paper/Cloth Uniform gas

Diffusion distribution,
Layer (GDL) Electrical and heat
conduction

Flow field Graphite To evenly distribute

plate the reactant gases to
the reaction sites PEMFC is symmetrical about Membrane

Current Gold coated copper To conduct the Reactants

collector plates current
Anode 99.99% pure H2
End Plates Aluminium or SS Holding all the gas
components Cathode Air / Oxygen

11
Components of Proton Exchange
Membrane Fuel Cells

1- Anode flow field 2- Five layer MEA

3- Cathode flow field
Structure of Proton Exchange
Membrane Fuel Cells
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Stack
 Working Principle

Anode (HOR):
 
H2  2H  2e
Cathode (ORR):
1
O2  2 H   2e   H 2O
2

1
H 2  O2  H 2O  Electricity  Heat
2
Flow Field Designs
• Flow Structure Purpose:
• Supply reaction gasses & remove
products
• Harvesting Current generated by
fuel cell

• Flow Structure Patterns:

• In PEMFC focus is on water
removal of Cathode side
• Basic Flow Patterns:
• Parallel
• Serpentine
• Interdigitated
 Case Study: Flow Field Structures

Straight zig-zag flow field for 225 cm2 PEMFC (Anode and cathode) – Dr P
Karthikeyan, PSGCT & Dr R Thundil Karupa Raj, VIT University, Vellore
Electrode – Electrolyte Interface
Energy Density Comparison
Performance of Fuel Cells
• Performance of Fuel Cell
• Current – Voltage Curve (i – V)
• Power density Curve

• Current Density – Current generated

per unit active area
• Power Density – Power generated per
unit active area

• Larger Reaction surface area, larger

current
 Losses in Fuel Cells
• Activation Losses – The
voltage difference needed to
induce the electrochemical
reactions.

• Ohmic Losses – The resistance

for the flow of protons through
membrane and flow of electrons
through fuel cell components.

• Concentration Losses – The

rapid consumption of reactants
by the electrochemical reactions.

Vcell = (Rev. poten.) - ( Act. Loss) – ( Ohmic Loss ) – (Concentration Loss )

Parasitic losses-Losses due to the power consumption of auxiliary systems.

Automobile Applications
Fuel Cell Vehicles
Automobile Applications
Fuel Cell Vehicles
India’s Development in FCV
Applications
Applications Accessories
Applications Accessories: Research Project
Development of Novel Fuel Sensor for Biofuel Combustion Engines

Fuel
Ignition
Control
Delay
Unit

Fuel Tank ECU Engine

SOFC
Fuel Air/Fuel
Sensor Ratio
Future of Fuel cell Vehicles
Challenges & Solutions:
• Infrastructure
• Cost
• Customer Demand
 Bhavesh R. Javale
Cont.: javale.pga@araiindia.com / javalebhavesh@gmail.com
9689270872