DOCSLIB.ORG

Development of Power Generation by Durect Ethanol Fuel Cell

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Development of Power Generation by Durect Ethanol Fuel Cell FUEL CELL SYSTEMS S. Basu New Delhi Department of Chemical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Delhi INDIA e- Load Water 1. Fuel chamber 2. Oxidant chamber 1 4 2 3. Anode (Pt) 4. Electrolyte Fuel 3 5 Oxidant 5. Cathode (Pt/C) (H ) 2 O2/Air + - H2 2 H +2e (Anode) + - 2 H +1/2 O2 +2e H2O (Cathode) H2 + 1/2 O2 H2O (Overall) 9 Automobile 9 Efficient Power Generation 9 Distributed Power Gen. 9 Environmental Friendly 9 Portable Electronics Eqpt. Fuel Cell Families Phosphoric Acid Cathode Anode o H+ 220 C Solid Polymer Cathode Anode o o H+ 30 C- 80 C Alkaline Air Cathode - Anode Fuel 50 oC- 200 oC OH Molten Carbonates o Cathode = Anode 650 C CO3 Solid Oxides Cathode Anode o o O= 700 C – 1000 C Alkaline Fuel Cell ALKALINE FUEL CELL Alkaline electrolyte - - Anode H2 + 2OH Æ 2H2O + 2e - - Cathode 1/2O2 + H2O + 2e Æ 2OH Overall H2 + 1/2O2 Æ H2O + electrical Energy +heat Poisoning: - 2- CO2 +2OH (CO3) + H2O ¾ Depletion of KOH ¾ Poisoning of cathode surface with carbonates Myth ! 9Kordesch, K. et al., (1999), Intermittent Use of a Low-Cost Alkaline Fuel Cell-hybrid System for Electric Vehicles, J. Power Sources, Vol. 80, pp. 9McLean, G. F. et al. (2002) An assessment of alkaline fuel cell technology, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 27 507 9Gülzow, E., and Schulze, M. (2003), Long-Term Operation of AFC Electrodes With CO2- Containing Gases, J. Power Sources, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell (DAFC) Fuel Processor Fuel Cleaning System Fuel Pure H2 Electricity Fuel Cell Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) (DEFC) Reduce CO adsorption on Pt at High Temp Higher power density at high temperature Easy breakage C-C bond in DEFC at High Temp. Problems at high temperature operation- • Poor proton conduction at High temperature • Nafion membrane should remain hydrated for proton conduction e- Load Water 1. Fuel chamber 2. Oxidant chamber 1 2 3. Anode (Pt) 4 4. Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel 3 5 Oxidant (PEM) (H ) 5. Cathode (Pt/C) 2 O2/Air + - H2 2 H +2e (Anode) + - 2 H +1/2 O2 +2e H2O (Cathode) H2 + 1/2 O2 H2O (Overall) DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL (DMFC) Load Air/H O CH3OH/H2O/CO2 Catalyst Layers 2 ANODE CATHODE PEM e- e- H+ H2O CH3OH Current collector + Reactant Distributor Current collector + Reactant Distributor Air CH3OH/H2O Diffusion Layers Reaction Mechanism Anode Reactions (Oxidation of Methanol) : + - CH3OH + Pt Pt - CH2OH + H + 1e (1) + - Pt-CH2OH + Pt Pt - CHOH + H + 1e (2) Pt-CHOH + Pt Pt-CHO + H+ + 1e- (3) Pt - CHO + Pt Pt - C≡O + H+ + 1e- (4a) or Pt Pt-CHO + Pt C=O + H+ + 1e- (4b) Pt Water dissociation + - Pt + H2O Pt-OH + H + 1e (5) + - Pt-OH + Pt-CO 2Pt + CO2 + H + 1e (6) Cathode Reactions (Reduction of Oxygen) : O2 + Pt Pt -O2 (7) + - Pt-O2 + H + 1e Pt -HO2 (8) Pt-HO2 + Pt Pt - OH + Pt -O (9) + - Pt -OH + Pt -O + 3H +3e 2 Pt + 2 H2O (10) Overall Reaction : CH3OH + 3/2 O2 CO2 +2H2O (11) Perfluro-sulphonic acid Membrane Hydrophilic part Hydrophobic part International Status • Published literatures are very few - 1. Doyle, M., Choi, S., Proulx, G., High-Temperature Proton Conducting Membranes Based on Perfluorinated Ionomer Membrane-Ionic Liquid Composites, J. Electrochem. Soc. 147 (2000), 34-37 2. Arico, A.S., Creti, P., Antonucci, P.L., Antonucci, V., (1998). Comparison of ethanol and methanol oxidation in a liquid-feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell at high temperature. Electrochemical and solid state letters, 1, 66-68. • Research work is going on – R & D Labs, Univ. (US, Canada, UK, Japan) National Status • Work on PEMFC/DMFC – IISc, SPIC, NCL, CECRI, IIT M • No work on membrane for high temperature operation • No work on DEFC - Some preliminary work by SPIC Science Foundation Electrode • Anode: Pt/Ru (40 % / 20%) /C Pt - 2 mg/cm2 0.4 mg/cm2 • Cathode: Pt/C (20%) Pt – 2mg/cm2 similar Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) • Perfluoro Sulphonic Membrane (Nafion DE 5112) PEM MEA 40 oC – 80 oC Anode PTFE Carbon cloth Cathode Bipolar plate Schematic of DEFC Load Air/H O C2H5OH/H2O/CO2 Catalyst Layers 2 ANODE CATHODE PEM e- e- + H H2O Current collect or + Reactant Distri butor Current collector + Reactant Distributor C2H5OH/H2O Diffusion Layers Air Anode: (catalyst : Pt / Ru / C ) - + C2H5OH + 3 H2O 12 e + 12 H + 2 CO2 Cathode: (catalyst : Pt / C ) - + 3 O2 + 12 e + 12 H 6 H2O Overall: C2H5OH + 3 O2 3 H2O + 2 CO2 Why Ethanol ? • Higher theoretical moles of H2 per moles (or litre) of fuel • Renewable resources • Lower toxicity, vapour pressure and flash point • Less corrosive Reaction Path Process Parameters Input 1. Temp : 145o – 150o C 2. Feed: anode - 1M EtOH Soln at 80 oC o cathode – O2 /Air humidified at 80 C 3. Catalyst loading : 2 mg/cm2 reduce loading 4. Anode / Cathode : 4 atm 5. Cross-sectional Area: 9 cm2 Output (single cell, expected) • Voltage (open circuit): 0.8 V • 0.5 V at 60-120 mA/cm2 • 30 – 60 mW/cm2 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) 2e- 2e- Porous Porous Cathode Anode Reaction Products + Heat O-2 ion (H2O, CO2, H2, CO etc.) O Air 2 H2 (and other fuels: CO, CH4 ...) Cathode Reaction: Anode Reactions: + - H 2H + 2e 1/2 O + 2e- O-2 Catalyst Thin Solid 2 2 ion Interfaces Electrolyte 2H + +O-2 H2O ion SOFC = High temperature (700 to 1000oC) solid state fuel cell with ceramic, oxygen ion conducting electrolyte Tubular SOFC Materials and Processing Component Material Fabrication Process Air Electrode Doped LaMnO3 Extrusion-Sintered Electrolyte ZrO2(Y2O3) Electrochemical Vapor Deposition Interconnection Doped LaCrO3 Plasma Spraying Fuel Electrode Ni-ZrO2 (Y2O3) Slurry Coat-Electrochemical Vapor Deposition Operating around 950-1000°C Courtesy of Siemens- Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA Tubular Geometry Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnection Electrolyte Air Fuel Electrode Flow Air Flow Fuel Electrode Tubular SOFC Small Stack of Tubular SOFC 24 SOFCs, each tube with 2.2 cm diameter and 150 cm long. Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Operating temperature ~ 700-750 ºC Use numerous fuels Efficiently produce power at varying loads The SOFC Stack Cells are sealed via a high temperature compressive gasket Delphi SOFC APU - Gen 1 to Gen 2 SOFC APU System Evolution Generation 1 Generation 2 SOFC APU SOFC APU Gen 1 Stacks Provided by Global Thermoelectric 155 Liters 60.5 Liters 12/2002 204 kg 12/2000 75 kg Delphi – Battelle Generation 2 Stack Cell and Stack Development Scale Up 106 cm2 Active Area 34 cm2 Active Area 34 cm2 3.5 cm2 Button-Cell Intermediate-Scale Full-Scale Small active area Full active area Primarily for repeating unit for repeating unit for cathode, stack –for design stack –for design electrolyte and performance and performance and anode optimization and optimization and materials development development development Delphi – Battelle Generation 2 Stack Development Summary Multiple sintered cells (12 cm x 12 cm) have been successfully fabricated. Research and development is being done in collaboration with Battelle. Process development being done internally at Delphi. Multiple stacks from 1-cell to 30-cell have been fabricated. Two 15- cell ISMs (Integrated stack module) have also been fabricated and have been tested in the APU systems. Integrated stack module-ISM Cassette with cell (repeating unit) 30-cell stack under test (Two 15-cell stacks+ current collector + load frame) FUTURE DIRECTION! SOFC Poisoning PEMFC Cost DAFC High Temperature MeOH cross over AFC Poisoning Karl Kordesch Zevco Company Zevco AFC Module (2000) 6000 hours 100 mA/cm2 Michael, P. D. ‘An Assessment of the prospect for fuel cell-powered cars ETSU, UK (2000) Most Advanced Fuel Cells Many fuels: Gaseous: H2, hydrocarbons, natural gas, biogas, coal gas Liquid: alcohol, gasoline, diesel Solid: gasified coal and biomass Many applications: Stationary and mobile Target: universal system? Comparisons ¾ Performance Current Den.(at 0.7V) Power at 0.7 V Pressure Temp mA/cm2 w/cm2 psig oC AFC 450 0.315 atm H2-air 75 115 0.081 same 40 PEMFC 250 0.175 same 60 125 0.088 same 70 ¾ Cost Astris (LC200-16) 240 W AFC 2400 USD H-Power (PowerPEM-PS250) 250 W PEMFC 5700 USD DAIS-Analytic (DAC-200) 200 W PEMFC 8500 USD Kordesch, K., et al.’Revival of AFC hybrid system for electric vehicles’ Proc. Fuel Cell Sem., Palm Springs 1998 Solid Oxide Fuel Cells - SOFCs Why: SOFCs Employ Solid State Electrolyte, hence: Corrosion Reduced; Water Management Eliminated; Very Thin Layers/Cell Components Possible; Fuel Flexibility High; Internal Reforming and Combined Heat/Power Cycles Possible, etc…. Problems: High Temperature (850-1000oC) Related, e.g., Longer Time Required for Start-up, Expensive Materials Involved, Durability/ Robustness/Cost Issues, etc… Reduced Temperature SOFCs: Dropping the Operating Temperature to Below 700oC ─ called Intermediate Temperature SOFCs. Eliminates high temperature problems Reformer Complexity - SOFC vs PEM Autothermal / Steam Reformer Solid Oxide Partial Oxidation Fuel Cell Reformer Stack > 900 °C 800 °C 700-1000 °C High Temperature SOFC Shift Reactor SOFC reformer and stack run at similar temperatures and can be closely coupled. Low Temperature Shift Reactor Preferential PEM Oxidation (CO clean-up) PEM reformer + stack run at very different temperatures. PEM A complex, multi-stage reformer system must be Fuel cell stack carefully thermally managed at each step. 80 °C Courtesy of Delphi Corp., Rochester, NY MULTI-FUEL ALKALINE FUEL CELL Fuels: MeOH, EtOH, NaBH4 Cathode: MnOx /Carbon paper Anode: Pt-black/Carbon paper/Ni 1 Fuel and electrolyte mixture 2 Exhausted fuel and electrolyte 3 Peristaltic pump for input 4 Peristaltic pump for output 5 Load 6 Anode terminal 7 Cathode terminal 8 Air 9 Anode electrode 10 Cathode electrode 11 Fuel and electrolyte mixture 12 Magnetic stirrer 13 Anode shield Comparative performance of alkaline fuel cell OCV: Open circuit voltage; SCCD: Short circuit current density Reference Fuel Anode Cathode Electrolyte Operating OCV SCCD Temp.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Residential Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Generator Fuelled by Ethanol
    Residential Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Generator Fuelled by Ethanol: Cell, Stack, and System Modelling with a Preliminary Experiment Andrea Lanzini, Massimo Santarelli, Gianmichele Orsello To cite this version: Andrea Lanzini, Massimo Santarelli, Gianmichele Orsello. Residential Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Generator Fuelled by Ethanol: Cell, Stack, and System Modelling with a Preliminary Experiment. Fuel Cells, Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2010, 10 (4), pp.654. 10.1002/fuce.201000004. hal-00552373 HAL Id: hal-00552373 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00552373 Submitted on 6 Jan 2011 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Fuel Cells Residential Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Generator Fuelled by Ethanol: Cell, Stack, and System Modelling with a Preliminary Experiment For Peer Review Journal: Fuel Cells Manuscript ID: fuce.201000004.R1 Wiley - Manuscript type: Original Research Paper Date Submitted by the 30-Mar-2010 Author: Complete List of Authors: Lanzini, Andrea; Politecnico di Torino, Energetics Santarelli, Massimo; Politecnico di Torino, Energetics Orsello, Gianmichele;
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix A: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Primer
    Appendix A: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Primer This section is not a comprehensive discussion of all potential components and applications of SOFCs; rather, it is intended to provide a conceptual overview of the basic components and functions of a SOFC supporting a vocabulary within which policymakers can debate and formulate policy decisions. A SOFC is an electrochemical device that generates electricity by oxidizing fuel such as natural gas or synthetic gas produced from coal. When commercialization of SOFCs is achieved, they can become a desirable and significant source of electricity in the United States and the world because they are efficient, reliable, adaptable, and produce low levels of emissions. When the fuel is hydrogen the only byproducts are water and heat, which can be used to support heat and power systems. In a SOFC, electricity is generated through an electrochemical reaction and not through a combustion process. The operating principles of fuel cells are similar to those of batteries, given they produce electricity without combustion or emissions. Unlike batteries, SOFCs do not run down or need to recharge; they only require a constant source of fuel and oxygen. A single fuel cell consists of three basic components1: (1) an anode, (2) a cathode, and (3) an electrolyte that separates them (see Figure 1). Bipolar plates on either side of the cell distribute gases and serve as current conductors. The Anode is the negative electrode that releases electrons to the external circuit and oxidizes fuel during the electrochemical reaction. The Cathode is the positive electrode that acquires electrons from the external circuit and is reduced during the electrochemical reaction.
    [Show full text]
  • Current State and Future Prospects for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems
    energies Review Current State and Future Prospects for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems Qaisar Abbas 1 , Mojtaba Mirzaeian 2,3,*, Michael R.C. Hunt 1, Peter Hall 2 and Rizwan Raza 4 1 Centre for Materials Physics, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK; [email protected] (Q.A.); [email protected] (M.R.H.) 2 School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK; [email protected] 3 Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue, 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan 4 Clean Energy Research Lab (CERL), Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 30 September 2020; Accepted: 26 October 2020; Published: 9 November 2020 Abstract: Electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems such as electrochemical capacitors, batteries and fuel cells are considered as the most important technologies proposing environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to address rapidly growing global energy demands and environmental concerns. Their commercial applications individually or in combination of two or more devices are based on their distinguishing properties e.g., energy/power densities, cyclability and efficiencies. In this review article, we have discussed some of the major electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems and encapsulated their technological advancement in recent years. Fundamental working principles and material compositions of various components such as electrodes and electrolytes have also been discussed. Furthermore, future challenges and perspectives for the applications of these technologies are discussed.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes with High Conductivity and Enhanced Redox Stability Brandon H
    Bucknell University Bucknell Digital Commons Master’s Theses Student Theses 2010 Development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes with High Conductivity and Enhanced Redox Stability Brandon H. Smith Bucknell University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses Recommended Citation Smith, Brandon H., "Development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrodes with High Conductivity and Enhanced Redox Stability" (2010). Master’s Theses. 32. https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/masters_theses/32 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses at Bucknell Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master’s Theses by an authorized administrator of Bucknell Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I, Brandon Smith, do grant permission for my thesis to be photocopied. ii Acknowledgements Foremost I would like to thank Dr. Michael Gross, who has served as my advisor throughout the completion of this work. I am grateful for his excellent guidance, insight, and direction which have carried my research to a successful conclusion and for the friendship that has developed. I would also like to express my appreciation to the members of my thesis committee, Dr. Jeffrey Csernica and Dr. William Snyder, whose commitment to education has inspired and challenged me. Several of my colleagues have also contributed to this body of research. I would like to thank Addison Yee, Brian Smith, Scott Schreiber, Billy Holler, Kristin Bretscher, and Jacob Pedder for all of their hard work over the past two years. It has been a pleasure working alongside and getting to know each of them.
    [Show full text]
  • Start-Up of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with a View to Materials Science-Related Aspects, Control and Thermo-Mechanical Stresses
    crystals Article Start-Up of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with a View to Materials Science-Related Aspects, Control and Thermo-Mechanical Stresses Konrad W. Eichhorn Colombo * and Vladislav V. Kharton Institute of Solid State Physics Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, 142432 Moscow, Russian; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The start-up of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is investigated by means of numerical simulation with a view to material and operational constraints on a component and system level, as well as thermo-mechanical stresses. The applied multi-physics modeling approach couples thermal-, electrochemical, chemical-, and thermo-mechanical phenomena. In addition to constraints, emphasis is given to degrees of freedom with respect to manipulated and controlled variables of the system. Proper ramping during the start-up procedure keeps critical parameter values within a safe regime. Of particular interest are gradient in terms of temperature and chemical concentrations. Nevertheless, simulations show that thermo-mechanical stresses are relatively high during the initial start-up phase, the system is, thus, more susceptible to failure. The combination of multi-physics modeling in conjunction with practical control aspects for start-up of an SOFC, which is presented in this paper, is important for applications. Citation: Eichhorn Colombo, K.W.; Kharton, V.V. Start-Up of a Solid Keywords: solid oxide fuel cell system; start-up; multi-physics; mathematical modeling; constraints; Oxide Fuel Cell System with a View process control to Materials Science-Related Aspects, Control and Thermo-Mechanical Stresses. Crystals 2021, 11, 732. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11070732 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Sofcs and Li-Ion Batteries
    october amp features_am&p master template new QX6.qxt 9/23/2010 3:00 PM Page 20 Advanced SOFCs and Li-ion Batteries Successful development OFC technology dominates competing Effect of Surface Condition on the and deployment of fuel cell technologies because it uses Interfacial Strength of Oxide Scale and cost-effective clean Scurrently available fossil fuels, reducing SS441 Substrate Used in SOFC operating costs. Other fuel cell technologies Wenning Liu, Xin Sun, Elizabeth Stephens, energy systems require (e.g., molten carbonate, polymer electrolyte, and Mohammad Khaleel in-depth understanding phosphoric acid and alkali) require hydrogen as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the fundamental their fuel. Oxidation reaction of the metallic intercon - electrochemical Lithium-ion batteries are popular because nects in a typical SOFC working environment is they have a number of important advantages unavoidable. Oxide scale can delaminate and processes, synthesis, over competing technologies including being eventual spall during stack cooling, which can identification, and lighter than other types of rechargeable batter - lead to serious cell performance degradation. In - development of novel ies of the same size, they hold their charge (a terfacial adhesion strength between the oxide materials, relevant lithium-ion battery pack loses only about 5% its scale and substrate is crucial to the reliability and thermodynamics and charge per month, compared to a 20% loss per durability of the metallic interconnect in SOFC month for NiMH batteries), have no memory operating environments. We investigated the ef - kinetics, knowledge of effect, and can handle hundreds of charge/ fect of the surface finish on the interfacial materials science discharge cycles.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrogen Pathways Analysis for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Dark Fermentation
    II.A.1 Hydrogen Pathways Analysis for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Dark Fermentation – High temperature electrolysis using solid oxide Brian D. James (Primary Contact), electrolysis cells (SOEC). Daniel A. DeSantis, Jennie M. Moton, • Select additional hydrogen pathways, gather information Cassidy Houchins on those hydrogen pathways, and define those hydrogen Strategic Analysis, Inc. pathways for future case study development. 4075 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22203 Technical Barriers Phone: (703) 778-7114 Email: [email protected] This project addresses the following technical barriers from the Hydrogen Production section of the Fuel Cell DOE Manager Technologies Office Multi-Year Research, Development, and Eric Miller Demonstration Plan: Phone: (202) 287-5829 Email: [email protected] Hydrogen Generation by Water Electrolysis Contract Number: DE-EE0006231 (F) Capital Cost Project Start Date: March 15, 2013 (G) System Efficiency and Electricity Cost Project End Date: March 14, 2016 (K) Manufacturing Fermentative Hydrogen Production Overall Objectives (AX) Hydrogen Molar Yield The objectives of this project are to: (AY) Feedstock Costs • Analyze hydrogen production and delivery (P&D) (AZ) Systems Engineering pathways to determine the most economical, environmentally benign and societally feasible paths for Technical Target the P&D of hydrogen fuel for fuel cell electric vehicles This project conducts cost modeling to attain realistic (FCEVs). cost estimates for the production and delivery of hydrogen • Identify key technical and economic barriers to the fuel for FCEVs. These values can help inform future success of these pathways, primary cost drivers, and technical targets. remaining R&D challenges. • U.S. DOE P&D cost goals <$4/gge of H2 (dispensed, • Assess technical progress, benefits and limitations, untaxed) by 2020 levelized hydrogen costs, and potential to meet U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Section 3.4 Fuel Cells
    2016 FUEL CELLS SECTION 3.4 Fuel Cells Fuel cells efficiently convert diverse fuels directly into electricity without combustion, and they are key elements of a broad portfolio for building a competitive, secure, and sustainable clean energy economy. They offer a broad range of benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions; reduced oil consumption; expanded use of renewable power (through the use of hydrogen derived from renewable resources as a transportation fuel as well as for energy storage and transmission); highly efficient energy conversion; fuel flexibility (use of diverse, domestic fuels, including hydrogen, natural gas, biogas, and methanol); reduced air pollution, criteria pollutants, water use; and highly reliable grid support. Fuel cells also have numerous advantages that make them appealing for end users, including quiet operation, low maintenance needs, and high reliability. Because of their broad applicability and diverse uses, fuel cells can address critical challenges in all energy sectors: commercial, residential, industrial, and transportation. The fuel cell industry had revenues of approximately $2.2 billion in 2014, an increase of almost $1 billion over revenues in 2013.1 The largest markets for fuel cells today are in stationary power, portable power, auxiliary power units, backup power, and material handling equipment. Approximately 155,000 fuel cells were shipped worldwide in the four-year period from 2010 through 2013, accounting for 510–583 MW of fuel cell capacity.2 In 2014 alone, more than 50,000 fuel cells accounting for over 180 MW of capacity were shipped.1 In transportation applications, manufacturers have begun to commercialize fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Hyundai and Toyota have recently introduced their FCEVs in the marketplace, and Honda is set to launch its new FCEV in the market in 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • Iron Based Cathode Catalyst for Alkaline Fuel Cells Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Honors Resea
    Iron Based Cathode Catalyst for Alkaline Fuel Cells Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Honors Research Distinction at The Ohio State University By Christopher Bruening Undergraduate Program in Chemical Engineering The Ohio State University 2014 Thesis Committee: Dr. Umit Ozkan, Advisor Dr. Kurt Koelling Copyright by Christopher Bruening 2014 Abstract Alkaline fuel cells take advantage of the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce water and an electrical current. During the reaction, a hydroxide ion passes through a membrane from the oxygen side cathode to the hydrogen side anode. Previous research had been conducted on synthesis and evaluation of iron based catalysts for PEM fuel cells by the Heterogeneous Catalysis Research Group at The Ohio State University. PEM fuel cells use a similar reaction between hydrogen and oxygen except a proton travels across the membrane from the hydrogen side to the oxygen side, so the reaction mechanism differs. This paper looks into those same iron based catalysts tested in an alkaline environment. The catalyst in particular is 1% iron in 1:1 Black Pearls 2000 : 1,10 phenanthroline. Those precursors are combined using a wet impregnation and then the result is ball milled. It then undergoes an argon pyrolysis at 1050oC and an ammonia pyrolysis at 950oC which are the final steps in the synthesis. The completed catalyst can then be washed in acid for 1 hour, 2 days, or 1 week to compare the effect of acid washing on different factors. The different catalysts are compared at each stage in the synthesis mainly by their onset potential, which is the voltage where it produces a current density of 0.1 mA/cm2.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Ionomers & Meas for Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells
    Advanced Ionomers & MEAs for Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells PI Bryan Pivovar National Renewable Energy Laboratory June 15, 2018 DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program 2018 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting Project ID #FC147 This presentation does not contain any proprietary, confidential, or otherwise restricted information. Overview Timeline and Budget Barriers • Project start: October 2015 • Durability • Project end: March 2019 • Cost • % complete: ~ 70% • Performance • DOE Budget plan Partners – FY 2016 - 2018 $ 2,600k – Cost Share Percentage – 0% • LBNL – Adam Weber • ORNL/UTK – Tom Zawodzinski • Colorado School of Mines – Andy Herring • (in-kind) 3M – Mike Yandrasits NREL | 2 Relevance/Impact DOE (Preliminary) Milestones for AMFCs* • Q2, 2017: Develop anion-exchange membranes with an area specific resistance ≤ 0.1 ohm cm2, maintained for 500 hours during testing at 600 mA/cm2 at T >60 oC. • Q4, 2017: Demonstrate alkaline membrane fuel cell peak power performance > 600 mW/cm2 on 2 H2/O2 (maximum pressure of 1.5 atma) in MEA with a total loading of ≤ 0.125 mgPGM/cm . • Q2, 2019: Demonstrate alkaline membrane fuel cell initial performance of 0.6 V at 600 mA/cm2 on 2 H2/air (maximum pressure of 1.5 atma) in MEA a total loading of < 0.1 mgPGM/cm , and less than 10% voltage degradation over 2,000 hour hold test at 600 mA/cm2 at T>60 oC. Cell may be reconditioned during test to remove recoverable performance losses. • Q2, 2020: Develop non-PGM catalysts demonstrating alkaline membrane fuel cell peak power performance > 600 mW/cm2 under hydrogen/air (maximum pressure of 1.5 atma) in PGM-free MEA.
    [Show full text]
  • Carbonomics the Rise of Clean Hydrogen
    EQUITY RESEARCH | July 8, 2020 | 11:34PM BST Carbonomics The Rise of Clean Hydrogen Clean hydrogen has a major role to play in the path towards net zero carbon, providing de-carbonization solutions in the most challenging parts of the Carbonomics cost curve - including long-haul transport, steel, chemicals, heating and long-term power storage. Clean hydrogen cost competitiveness is also closely linked to cost deflation and large scale developments in renewable power and carbon capture (two key technologies to produce it), creating three symbiotic pillars of de-carbonization. Clean hydrogen is gaining strong political and business momentum, emerging as a major component in governments' net zero plans such as the European Green Deal. This is why we believe that the hydrogen value chain deserves serious focus after three false starts in the past 50 years. Hydrogen is very versatile, both in its production and consumption: it is light, storable, has high energy content per unit mass and can be readily produced at an industrial scale. The key challenge comes from the fact that hydrogen (in its ambient form as a gas) is the lightest element and so has a low energy density per unit of volume, making long-distance transportation and storage complex and costly. In this report we analyze the clean hydrogen company ecosystem, the cost competitiveness of green and blue hydrogen in key applications and its key role in Carbonomics: the green engine of economic recovery. Michele Della Vigna, CFA Zoe Stavrinou Alberto Gandolfi +44 20 7552-9383 +44 20 7051-2816 +44 20 7552-2539 [email protected] [email protected] alberto.gandolfi@gs.com Goldman Sachs International Goldman Sachs International Goldman Sachs International Goldman Sachs does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Diffuse Layer in Acidic and Alkaline Fuel Cells
    Author's personal copy Electrochimica Acta 56 (2011) 4518–4525 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Electrochimica Acta journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/electacta Role of the diffuse layer in acidic and alkaline fuel cells Isaac Sprague, Prashanta Dutta ∗ School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2920, USA article info abstract Article history: A numerical model is developed to study electrolyte dependent kinetics in fuel cells. The model is based Received 17 December 2010 on the Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) and generalized-Frumkin–Butler–Volmer (gFBV) equations, and is Received in revised form 13 February 2011 used to understand how the diffuse layer and ionic transport play a role in the performance difference Accepted 15 February 2011 between acidic and alkaline systems. The laminar flow fuel cell (LFFC) is used as the model fuel cell Available online 23 February 2011 architecture to allow for the appropriate comparison of equivalent acidic and alkaline systems. We study the overall cell performance and individual electrode polarizations of acidic and alkaline fuel cells for Keywords: both balanced and unbalanced electrode kinetics as well as in the presence of transport limitations. The Alkaline fuel cell Acidic electrolyte results predict cell behavior based on electrolyte composition that strongly correlates with observed Alkaline electrolyte experimental results from literature and provides insight into the fundamental cause of these results. Electric double layer Specifically, it is found that the working ion concentration at the reaction plane plays a significant role in Laminar flow fuel cell fuel cell performance including activation losses and the response to different kinetic rates at an individual electrode.
    [Show full text]