Introduction to Fuel Cell Systems

Name : Pandya Vijay Er.no : 151080106016Subject : Engineering Physics Topic : Fuel cells

Guided by Megha mem

Overview• Introduction• Current Environmental Situation• Why Fuel Cells?• Fuel Cell Fundamentals• System Applications• Challenges

*EPA 420-R-04-001

*Green Power, Los Alamos National Lab, LA-UR-99-3231

•CO2 varied between 200 and 300 ppm (last 160,000 year)•CO2 has increased from 280 ppm to 360 ppm in a single century•Predicted to rise to 600 ppm by 2100

*General Motors Corporation

• Vehicle traffic causes half of all urban smog and 90% of the carbon monoxide emissions in the US.*

• Automotive related air pollution kills twice the number of Americans that die in auto accidents, and triple the number of homicide victims.*

• In 2001, you were 24 times more likely to die from air pollution than from a terrorist attack.

• Transportation Costs?

• Foreign Oil Dependency?

• Environment (i.e. Global Warming)?

• Is Our Current Lifestyle Sustainable? – (5% world population emitting 20% of

the greenhouse gases)

The Debate: Energy Use

• Clean (CO2 and emissions), Flexible, Distributed Energy Carrier…

• Electricity!– Generate with Nuclear, PV, Wind!

• Storage Problem in Mobile Applications

Why Fuel Cells?

• Conventional Power Generation– Fuel Heat Mechanical Electricity– 20% - 30% Fuel Electricity

• Fuel Cell: Electrochemical Device– Fuel (hydrogen) Electricity, 50%– “Steady Flow Battery”

• Fossil Fuel Dependant CO2

– Hydrocarbon Reforming for Hydrogen– Electrolysis? (only if you have clean e-)

Why Fuel Cells?

• Fuel cell easily converts H2 to e-

• Fuel cells, through H2 energy carrier, get around the on-board e- storage issue.

• Double onboard e- storage fuel cells may not make sense (Toshiba Advanced Li-Ion Battery)

Why Fuel Cells?

• Electrochemical Device

• “Steady Flow Battery”

• Electrochemical “Engine”

• Generate DC power

• # of cells (voltage) and active area (current)

Fuel Cells Fundamentals

Fuel Cells Types

*California Fuel Cell Partnership

Introduction

*Green Power, Los Alamos National Lab, LA-UR-99-3231

• Durability (up to 5,000 hrs and 40,000 hrs?)

• Clean H2 Production• Cost per kW (not just Pt)• Size• Weight• End of Cycle Impact?• Better than Hybrid Technology?• Better than Battery Technology?

Challenges

* Honda Motor Company

• 1 Liter displacement

• 2.0 kW/kg (145lbs180hp)

• < $20/kW

No matter the efficiency, consumption is the bigger problem…

Is vehicle transportation sustainable?

• Helicopter 4 20• US Auto Avg 21 84• Prius 60 230• Aircraft 67 85• FCV (projection) 67 270• Walking 235 235• Commuter Train 244 520• GM EV1 260 400• TGV Train 500 630• Bike 653 653

Gasoline Equivalent MPG (1 gal = 5.76 MJ of energy)