FUEL CELLS 1

FUEL CELLS

VARAD MESHERI

ASSIGNMENT 2

20173076
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A regenerative fuel cell assembly is provided in which a fuel cell is integrated with an

electrolysis cell in a preferred embodiment the fuel cell assembly and electrolysis cell assembly

are spaced apart and have their hydrogen electrodes in facing relationship; a water transport

matrix is disposed in the space between the hydrogen electrodes, and a water storage matrix is

disposed adjacent the oxygen electrode of the fuel cell. During electrolysis cell operation the

water in the water storage matrix passes to the water transport which carries it to the electrolysis

cell where it is consumed

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Working Principle for Fuel cells

Fuel cells are devices that utilize an electrochemical process to convert a fuel into electrical

energy. This energy can be used to power vehicles, electronic devices, houses, or whole electrical

grids. Increased attention in fuel cell technology over the last few decades has been due to its high

efficiency and extremely clean processes. Unlike a battery that stores energy, a fuel cell converts

fuel into electrical power without the use of stored materials within its structure. Fuel cells also

differ from conventional heat engines in that they produce electricity directly from chemical energy

without the use of intermediate conversion into mechanical power and, when hydrogen is used as

fuel, its only byproducts are water and heat. (Smith, 2002).

The workings of fuel cells are based on fundamental electrochemical principles. The

reaction of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to form water is the backbone. The process occurs

naturally and is caused by the fact that charged particles migrate towards regions of lower

electrochemical energy. The charged particles in hydrogen and oxygen move towards each other

and bond to the another because the final products of this reaction have lower overall

electrochemical energy. The movement of these charged particles can be used to generate electrical

energy, which is essentially the controlled movement of electrons. (O. A. Marina, 2007)

One type of regenerative fuel cells known to utilizes the same electrodes for the fuel cell

during one mode of operation and for the fuel cell during one mode of operation and for the

electrolysis cell during the regeneration mode. While It is possible to perform both power

generation and electrolysis with a single cell operating in a fuel cell mode at one time and in an

electrolysis cell mode at another time, it is not advantageous to do so. Separating the fuel from the

electrolysis cell permits independent optimization of the materials and configurations of each cell.

Performance and durability are not as good if one cell is required to function in both modes. During
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fuel cell operation hydrogen and oxygen are reacted in the fuel cell to generate electrically and

form water. This water dilutes the fuel cell electrolyte declines, the equilibrium water vapor

pressure. The water vapor pressure gradient across the hydrogen passage is reestablished, and

water from the fuel cell is again transferred to electrolysis cell. Table 1 shows the specific energies

for RFC. (US Grant Patent No. US3839091A).

A RFC is a device that can operate alternately as an electrolyze and as a fuel cell.

Theoretical specific energy of H2/O2 fuel cell system is 3600 Wh/kg, but when the masses of

storage tanks and the fuel cell system are considered with practical fuel cell efficiencies, specific

energy more than 400Wh/kg may be achieved. As such it may be used in application where

relatively large amounts of electricity need to be stored.

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Regenerative fuel cell systems for space exploration: Generating electrical power,

and maintaining a specific thermal environment, are both critical capabilities for any mission. In

the case of exploration, both a wide range of mission types robotic, human, ISRU etc. and a

variety of environment exist. A typical example is the exploration of moon with the installation

on the moon surface of a vase inclusive of pressurized habitats and rovers. (Giorgio Luigi

Ferrari, 2011)

Fuel cells can be used for

 Energy storage for remote off-grid power sources

 In conjunction with highly intermittent renewable sources

 Emergency or backup generation

 Unmanned underwater vehicles

 High altitude long solar rechargeable aircraft

 Hybrid energy storage for spacecraft

RFC have the potential of achieving much higher specific energy densities than any of the

advanced battery systems. Therefore, this technology in suitable for applications where relatively

large amounts of energy must be stored such as for off-grid power sources, emergency, or backup

power generation, zero emission vehicles, hybrid energy storage/propulsion systems for space craft,

and high altitude long endurance solar rechargeable aircraft.

In optimizing RFC systems for a given application, the operating efficiency of both the fuel

cell and electroyzer may be traded against the stack mass. The results of this trade-off analysis

indicate that RFC may be a viable option for energy storage in solar energy power systems where

weight is important.
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Advantage: Environmentally friendly

Fuel cells are friendly and, while the large sizes can be complex, much like a chemical

plant, in the small and portable sizes they can be quiet and relatively simple in design. While

these characteristics are superior to the engine-generators and other heat engines they may

replace, for these characteristics they offer no advantage over batteries. Further, the need to

provide a method for attaching the fuel supply and an infrastructure to supply the fuel makes it

more complex as these components are not required for the battery, which is self-contained.

Disadvantage: Cost

Cost will be a major factor for the acceptance of fuel cells as a replacement for batteries.

The cost of the fuel cell is determined by its two components: the fuel cell and auxiliaries, and

the fuel source. At this time, the cost of the fuel cell is high compared to batteries, not only

because it has not attained commercial production status, but also because the polymers,

catalysts, and other components are expensive. A potential advantage of the fuel cell again

focuses on the fuel supply. If the cost of fuel replacement can be reduced so that it is lower than

that of battery replacement, fuel cell deployment may be a cost-effective approach for extended

periods of operation.
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Bibliography

F.Miltisky, B. W. (2010). Regenerative fuel cell systems R&D.

Giorgio Luigi Ferrari, S. P. (2011). Energy storage: regenrative fuel cell system for space

exploration. Retrieved from SAE: https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-

papers/content/2011-01-2624/

J stedman, D. B. (n.d.). US Grant Patent No. US3839091A.

O. A. Marina, L. R. (2007). Electrode performance in Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. Journal

of Electrochemcial Society, 154.

Reddy, T. (2011). Linden's Handbook of Batteries. McGraw-Hill Professional.

Schumm, B. (2012). Fuel cells. Britannica.

Smith, J. A. (2002). A broad look at the working,types and applicatons of fuel cells. IEEE power

engineering summer meeting.

Soloveichik, G. L. (2014). Regenerative Fuel Cells for. IEEE, 12.