Fuel Cell Systems: Fundamentals and Simulation HW 1: Introduction & Fuel Cell Thermodynamics Total marks: 45 1.

(4 marks) Consider a Hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle. The vehicle consumes 30 kW of electric power when moving at a constant speed of 60 km/h. The fuel cell is 40% efficient, which means it converts 40% of the chemical energy available in the H2 to electrical energy. What should be the size of the fuel cell system so that the driver can go at least 450 km at 60 km/h before refueling? Specify the minimum volume and weight requirements for the fuel cell system (fuel cell + fuel tank) given the following information: Fuel cell power density: 1 kW/L, 500 W/kg Fuel tank energy density (compressed H2): 4 MJ/L, 8MJ/kg 2. (3 marks) If an isothermal reaction involving gases exhibits a large negative volume change (final initial volume is negative), is the entropy change for the reaction likely to be negative or positive? 3. (2 marks) Can you say anything about the spontaneity of a chemical reaction when a. < 0, >0 b. > 0, <0 c. Both positive d. Both negative 4. (2 marks) Reaction R1 has grxn = 1000 kJ/kg, and reaction R2 has grxn = 2000 kJ/kg. What can you say about the relative speeds of these two reactions based on the above information? 5. (4 marks) Can the thermodynamic limit to the efficiency (given by max =

g h

of a fuel cell be

greater than 1? Explain why or why not. Think about other fuel cell types, not just H2-O2. 6. (6 marks) x moles of methanol and y moles of air are supplied to a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) generating a current of i (A) at a voltage V (V). & & a. Write expressions for the output molar flux (mol/s) of methanol ( q MeOH ,out ), air ( q air ,out

& & ), water ( q H 2 O ,out ), and carbon dioxide ( q CO 2,out ) using the given variables.
b. Write the same expression for the stoichiometric factors for methanol and air using the given variables. Clearly indicate the numeric values for n in all cases. 7. (6 marks) In the water-gas shift thermodynamics example in the class, we assumed 0 0 hrxn hrxn , and s rxn srxn . Now determine the % error in E, introduced due to this approximation. Take cp values of the species involved in the reaction to be constant, and work with the value at standard conditions. Assuming that cp is constant is, of course, another approximation, which is sometimes necessary when working with paper calculations (as opposed to computer programs). 8. (6 marks) In class, I mentioned that you could think of a H2-O2 fuel cell as simply a H2 concentration cell, where O2 is used to chemically tie-up H2 at the cathode. O2s ability to tie

up H2 can be measured by the Gibbs free ener of the H2-O2 reaction. At STP (assuming air at energy cathode), what is the effective H2 pressure the O2 is able to chemically maintain at the cathode of a H2-O2 fuel cell. How does it compare with the specific numerical values that we discussed for a pure H2 concentration cell? 9. (4 marks) A typical PEMFC (H2-O2 fuel cell) might operate at a voltage of 0.75 V, and a an = ca = 1.4. At STP, what is the efficiency of such a fuel cell (use HHV and assume pure O2 at cathode). 10. (5 marks) A direct methanol fuel cell generates 1000 A at 0.3 V at STP. CH3OH and air are supplied to the fuel cell at 0.003 mol/s and 0.03 mol/s respectively. Calculate e a. The output molar flow rates of all effluents from the fuel cell b. The stoichiometric factors for CH3OH and air c. The heat generation rate (J/s = W) for this fuel cell assuming hrxn = 719.19 kJ/mol for tion methanol combustion at STP. 11. (5 marks) 10 moles of N2 are trapped inside a cylinder fitted with a movable piston as shown in the figure below. The N2 is at T = Tatm = 27 C, and P = 5 Patm = 5 bar. Using the concept of Gibbs free energy and chemical potential, calculate the maximum amount of useful work (J) that can be obtained from this system if a. The walls of the container and the piston are thermally insulated b. The walls of the container and the piston are thermally conducting c. Repeat case (b) if T = 1227 C, and P = Patm = 1 bar