Hydrogen fuel cells

Name:- Digvijay R.Girase

Roll No.:-28
Div:- D Batch:- D-2
Guided By :- Dr Sachin Munde sir.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells

David Lorse
ESS 315
 What is a hydrogen fuel cell?
• Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs) are a type of
electrochemical cell.

• HFCs generate electricity by reduction

and oxidation reactions within the cell.

• They use three main components, a

fuel, an oxidant and an electrolyte.

• HFCs operate like batteries, although

they require external fuel.

• HFCs are a thermodynamically open

system.

• HFCs use hydrogen as a fuel, oxygen as

an oxidant, a proton exchange
membrane as an electrolyte, and emit
only water as waste.
 How do they work?
• Fuel (H2) is first transported to
the anode of the cell

• Fuel undergoes the anode

reaction

• Anode reaction splits the fuel

into H + (a proton) and e-

• Protons pass through the

electrolyte to the cathode

• Electrons can not pass through

the electrolyte, and must travel
through an external circuit
which creates a usable electric
current

• Protons and electrons reach

the cathode, and undergo the
cathode reaction
 Chemistry behind the technology
Oxidation Reduction

At the anode of the cell, a At the cathode of the cell, a

catalyst (platinum powder) second catalyst (nickel) is used
is used to separate the to recombine the protons,
proton from the electron in electrons, and oxygen atoms to
the hydrogen fuel. form water.
Anode half-reaction: Cathode half- reaction:
2H 2 ➔ 4H+ + 4e- 4H + + O2 + 4e- ➔ 2H2O
Eo = 0.00V Eo = 0.68V

In electrochemistry, the Eocell value (energy) of a fuel cell is equal to the Eo of

the cathode half-reaction minus the Eo of the anode half-reaction. For a
hydrogen fuel cell, the two half reactions are shown above. So to calculate the
energy of one fuel cell, we need to subtract the anode energy from the
cathode energy. For a HFC, the Eocell = 0.68V – 0.00V which equals 0.68V
 Uses of hydrogen fuel cells
There are many different uses of fuel cells being utilized right now. Some of these
uses are…
• Power sources for vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses and even boats and submarines

• Power sources for spacecraft, remote weather stations and military technology

• Batteries for electronics such as laptops and smart phones

• Sources for uninterruptable power supplies.

 Problems regarding hydrogen fuel cells
• Lack of hydrogen infrastructure

• Need for refueling stations

• Lack of consumer distribution system

• Cost of hydrogen fuel cells

• 2009 Department of Energy estimated $61/kw

• Honda FCX Clarity costs about half a million dollars to make

• Carbon cost of producing hydrogen

• Problems with HFC cars

• Short range (~260 miles)

• Warm up time (~5 minutes)

 References
• http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fuelcell.shtml

• http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell.htm

• http://www.energy.gov

• Chemical Principles, Sixth Edition, Zumdahl