Hydrogen Generation

Hydrogen is the fuel for low temperature fuel cell. However, for high
temperature fuel cells hydrocarbon may be fed to fuel cell instead of
hydrogen. Hydrocarbon may be reformed in-situ in the fuel cell from the
hydrocarbon.

It can be understood that the generation of hydrogen is one of the important

processes for the fuel cell application. We may generate hydrogen from any
hydrogen atom containing species (eg., hydrocarbon and water) using
various techniques. A few of the important techniques are listed
Hydrogen production technique
Hydrogen from hydrocarbon

•Since hydrogen doesn't exist on earth in free form, we must separate

it from other chemical species.
•We can separate hydrogen atoms from biomass, or natural gas
molecules.
•Hydrogen can be produced from natural gas with approximately 80%
efficiency, or from other hydrocarbons to a varying degree of
efficiency.
Hydrogen from water

•Water is the another greatest source of hydrogen.

•High purity (ideally 100%) hydrogen can be produced from water.
Reforming of hydrocarbon

The aim of the reforming is to generate hydrogen rich gas by hydrocarbons. The reforming may be done with or without
catalyst. Three types of major reforming process are,

•Steam reforming (SR)

•Partial oxidation reforming (POR)
•Auto thermal reforming (ATR)

Steam reforming (SR)

•Steam is used to reform the hydrocarbon (say natural gas) using a catalyst.

CH4+H2O -------------> 3H2+CO ; Δh=(+)

•The above reaction is strongly endothermic.

•In subsequent reaction the CO can further be converted to CO2 and the process is known as water-gas-shift reaction,

CO+H2O -------------> H2+CO2 ; Δh=(-)

•The above reaction is mildly exothermic.

•The above process do not need air, thus the product is not diluted with nitrogen.
Partial Oxidation Reforming (POR)

•Partial reforming is the another technique for generation of hydrogen by

hydrocarbon for fuel cell.
•As the name indicates, less oxygen (stochiometry) is required to carryout
•POR. POR does not require catalyst if it is carried out at high temperature.
•Catalyst is required for the partial oxidation at low temperature, the process is
then known as catalytic partial oxidation reforming (CPOR).
•A typical POR is shown below,

CH4+1/2O2----------------->CO+2H2 ; Δh=(-)
Autothermal Reforming (ATR)

•It is another technique for hydrogen generation.

•The name suggests that the temperature is not required externally.
•However, the thermal energy requirement is met by the system itself.
•The idea is that if the endothermic steam reforming reaction and the
exothermic POR occur together, there should not be any need of heat
addition or removal to/from the system.
Hydrogen Generation Through Electrolysis

Electrolysis reactions in cationic electrolyte

Cathode Reaction:

4 H+ + 4e- <--------> 2H2

Anode Reaction:

2H2O <--------> O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e-

Overall Cell Reaction:

2 H2 O <----------> 2H2 + O2
Electrolyte (cationic or anionic) is placed between anode and cathode of the cell
and the electrical current is given by the DC power source.
Hydrogen is generated at cathode, whereas oxygen is generated at anode of the
electrolytic cell.