Fuel Cell: A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through

a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Commonly Used Fuels: Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used. Difference b/w Fuel Cell and Battery: Fuel cells are different from batteries in that they require a constant source of fuel and oxygen to run, but they can produce electricity continually for as long as these inputs are supplied. Working of Fuel Cell: By providing energy from a battery, water (H2O) can be dissociated into the diatomic molecules of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). This is termed as electrolysis. Working principle of fuel cell is that reverse of electrolysis.

Different sections of the fuel cell are: Anode: Anode is the electrode where the fuel reacts or "oxidizes", and releases electrons.The anode catalyst, which breaks down the fuel into electrons and ions. The anode catalyst is usually made up of very fine platinum powder. Cathode: Cathode is also the electrode where oxygen (usually from the air) "reduction" occurs.The cathode catalyst, which turns the ions into the waste chemicals like water or carbon dioxide. The cathode catalyst is often made up of nickel but it can also be a nanomaterial-based catalyst. Electrolyte: A chemical compound that conducts ions from one electrode to the other inside a fuel cell.The electrolyte substance usually defines the type of fuel cell. Catalyst: A substance that causes or speeds a chemical reaction without itself being affected. Cogeneration: The use of waste heat to generate electricity. Harnessing otherwise wasted heat boosts the efficiency of power-generating systems. Reformer: A device that extracts pure hydrogen from hydrocarbons.

Fuel cells come in many varieties; however, they all work in the same general manner. They are made up of three adjacent segments: the anode, the electrolyte, and the cathode. Two chemical reactions occur at the interfaces of the three different segments. The net result of the two reactions is that fuel is consumed, water or carbon dioxide is created, and an electric current is created, which can be used to power electrical devices, normally referred to as the load. At the anode a catalyst oxidizes the fuel, usually hydrogen, turning the fuel into a positively charged ion and a negatively charged electron. The electrolyte is a substance specifically designed so ions can pass through it, but the electrons cannot. The freed electrons travel through a wire creating the electric current. The ions travel through the electrolyte to the cathode. Once reaching the cathode, the ions are reunited with the electrons and the two react with a third chemical, usually oxygen, to create water or carbon dioxide. Direct Fuel Cell: A type of fuel cell in which a hydrocarbon fuel is fed directly to the fuel cell stack, without requiring an external "reformer" to generate hydrogen. Fuel Cell Stack: To deliver the desired amount of energy, the fuel cells can be combined in series and parallel circuits, where series yields higher voltage, and parallel allows a higher current to be supplied. Such a design is called a fuel cell stack. The cell surface area can be increased, to allow stronger current from each cell.

Output Voltage and Losses: A typical fuel cell produces a voltage from 0.6 V to 0.7 V at full rated load. Voltage decreases as current increases, due to several factors:

Activation loss (Heat losses in electrolyte) Ohmic loss (voltage drop due to resistance of the cell components) Mass transport loss (depletion of reactants at catalyst sites under high loads)

Types of Fuel Cells:

1. Alkaline fuel cell 2. Direct borohydride fuel cell 3. Direct methanol fuel cell 4. Reformed methanol fuel cell 5. Direct-ethanol fuel cell 6. Regenerative fuel cell 7. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell 8. Molten carbonate fuel cell 9. Tubular solid oxide fuel cell (TSOFC) 10. Direct carbon fuel cell 11. Enzymatic Biofuel Cells 12. Magnesium-Air Fuel Cell 13. Direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) 14. Up flow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) 15. Electro-galvanic fuel cell