Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Basic electrochem
Galvantic cell
2H
2
+ O
2
2H
2
O
Anode (oxidation)
H
2
2H
+
+ 2e-
Cathode (reduction)
O
2
+ 4e- 2O
2-
Typical electrochemical cell/battery
potentiometer
Salt bridge
Anode
oxidation
Cathode
reduction
Flow of electrons
Junction potentials
Fuel cell
The fuel is the anode
The oxidant is the cathode
The fuel and oxidant continuously flow
through the cell
An electrolyte separates the fuel and
oxidant channels
Solid or liquid electrolyte that conducts
protons
Need catalyst at low temp
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Potential Advantages
Clean; only product is H
2
O and heat.
More efficient than heat engine.
Higher part load efficiency
Excellent response time
Co-generation
No tuning required
No recharging required

Disadvantages
H
2
is difficult/expensive to produce, store
and transport.
Fuels cells require pure fuel.
Platinum catalysts are expensive and rare
Proton exchange membranes must be
kept moist
Hydrogen fuel cell stacks are heavy


uses
Stationary power plants; small, power to
neighborhoods, hospitals, ect.
Submarines
Buses
Cars

Proton Exchange Membrane
(PEM) Fuel Cells
Electrolyte is a thin solid polymer film (acidified
Teflon)
Conducts H
+
from the anode to the cathode
Low temp (160-195 C)
15-30 psi
1.1 V
H
2
2H+ + 2e-
1/2O
2
+ 2e- + 2H
+
H
2
O

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
CH
3
OH + H
2
O 6H
+
+ CO
2
+ 6e-
3/2O
2
+ 6e- + 6H+ 3H
2
O

Still pretty new technology, uses a
different catalyst at a higher temp.
Not as efficient

Several Advantages
Tolerant to CO
2
in oxidant
Low temp
Dry electrolyte
Non-corrosive electrolyte
High current, voltage and power density
Tolerant to differential pressures



Disadvantages
Anode and cathode needs platinum
catalysts
Tolerates only about 50 ppm of CO and a
few ppm of Sulfur compounds in fuel
Gas humidification required
Expensive membrane
Alkaline Fuel Cells
Molten KOH as electrolyte
Conducts OH- from cathode to anode
Circulating electrolye, removes heat and
water/or a stationary paste needs
H
2
+ 2OH
-
2H
2
O + 2e-
1/2O
2
+ H
2
O + 2e- 2OH
-

Removal of water is critical
Advantages
Low temp
Fast start up
High efficiency
Little or no platinum catalyst needed
Minimal corrosion
Disadvantages
Extremely intolerant of CO
2
(350 ppm) and
somewhat intolerant of CO
Liquid electrolyte handling
Complex water management
Short lifetime
Other barriers to the Realization of
a Hydrogen Economy
Platinum catalyst
Humidification
Needs pure fuel
Fuel cell stacks are heavy
Hydrogen production is expensive
Hydrogen transportation is expensive
Hydrogen storage is vehicles is a bit
impratical

Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not an energy
source
Fossil fuels especially, coal and natural gas
methane reforming and partial oxidation (burning)
High temperatures and steam/more efficient than
combustion
Renewable electrolysis (wind, solar, geothermal,
hydroelectric)
Nuclear
Biomass
Photo-electrochemical using algae
Consume water and solar energy and produce H
2

Hydrogen Transport
Pipelines
High pressure tubes
Cryogenic tankers
Chemical carriers

Research
Less costly materials for pipelines
Less expensive compression technology
Less costly liquefaction processes
More cost effective bulk storage strategies
Hydrogen Storage in vehicle
Hydrogen has a low energy to volume
ratio.
The hydrogen fuel tank takes up a lot of
space.
Can we store hydrogen in a different form
(metal hydride)?
This is why methanol as a fuel is an
attractive option.