Future Economy - Fuel Cells Economy FUTURE ECONOMY - FUEL CELLS ECONOMY

1M MURUGESH, 2M JISHNU KUMAR REDDY, 3S SHAFIRAHMAN, 4P KISHORE KUMAR

Mechanical Engineering Final Year, RGUKT RK Valley, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract:Fuel cells, which will be operated at reduced temperature, are becoming frontier of R and D. These fuel cells with certain modifications will fit well with our requirement for automobiles as well as home needs. Conventional hydrogen fuel cells will be effectively operated with stationary mode. Fuel cells based on SOFC’s are not suitable for cold start mode from the viewpoint of heat loss. The merit of internal reforming will also be lost for the reduced operation temperature. Solid Fuel Cells are becoming the most revolutionary platforms in making a greener earth with low cost electricity production. Within its category SOFC is the cheapest, high temperature working and output efficient. The paper review contains the explanation of Hydrogen Fuel Cells utilization in automobiles and also for power generation. Merits / demerits of fuel cells are concisely discussed. Blooming new technologies within SOFC and improvements after its foundation and the new techniques to utilize hydrogen fuel cells for better efficiencies. Bloom Energy Server, which is the power plant box constructed with SOFC’s.

Keywords: Fuel cells – SOFC’s, Hydrogen Production, and Bloom Energy Server.

I. INTRODUCTION Current major challenges with implementation of fuel cells are cost for construction Steam engines ruled the 19th century. The 20th century and electrolysis for hydrogen production. If we have was ruled by internal combustion engine. Now the a solution for these problems then our economy will 21st century would be the era of Fuel Cells. The turn into fuel cells economy. This review on fuel cells worst scenario in the present world is the mainly deals with these problems. environmental pollution. There is a need of replacing the present less efficient and polluting vehicles with II. HYDROGEN highly efficient and ecofriendly vehicles. The fuel cell vehicles are the best solution to the case till the A Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that date. combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce Nowadays days a constant research is going electricity, with water and heat as its by- on alternative fuels for Automobiles and for home product.Since conversion of the fuel to energy takes needs with minimum pollution. We are unable to place via an electrochemical process, not have a power generator which gives power combustion.It is a clean, quiet and highly efficient throughout 24/7 until we come across Bloom Energy process- two to three times more efficient than fuel Server. It’s like a common battery which gives onsite burning. power source. With the application of biofuels into Bloom Energy Server, We can have power without

pollution (Zero Pollution). When we are dealing It is obvious from the above equation that by-product with Automobiles, we had some growth in hydrogen from the fuel cell is only water vapour. Fuel cell fuel cells which are pollution free. Hydrogen vehicles have a problem of hydrogen production as Economy provides good platform for Automobiles it’s a cost consuming process. but it’s very expansive in construction and for electrolysis. Now what we can think regarding Automobiles fuel crises is to implement hydrogen fuel cells with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC’s) rather than Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC).PEMFC’s sometimes called as Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. PEMFC’s typically run at low temperatures (<100 oC) and also the cost of Electrolyte is very high but SOFC’s cost is lower than FEMFC’s and also temperatures of operation are typically 800-1,000 oC. The electrolyte used in SOFC’s is a solid nonporous metal oxide typically zirconium oxide (ZrO2) doped with Y2O3. PEMFC’s requires expansive platinum catalysts and produces low power output (<1kW-250kW). Fig.1 Basic Configuration of Fuel Cells

Proceedings of 2nd IRAJ International Conference, 13th October 2013, Trivandrum, India. ISBN: 978-93-82702-33-7

51 Future Economy - Fuel Cells Economy III. ’s leading to a lower processing cost. On the other hand, the single SOFC in other configurations may possess Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) known for their high higher performances, but the problem of high (up to 80%) chemical to electrical/ thermal temperature sealing may be more problematic. conversion efficiencies, their versatility in fuel intake Single SOFCs can be classified into two broad (hydrogen, , methanol and other petroleum categories: self-supporting and those requiring products etc.)and their relatively environmentally external support. In the self-supporting configuration, benign operation, have a high market potential, but one of the cell components, often the thickest layer, they are not yet mass produced, because of acts as the cell structural support. Thus, single cells outstanding technological and economic issues. can be designed as electrolyte-supported, anode- Hallow fiber SOFC’s increases the specific surface supported, or cathode-supported. In the externally- area of electrodes, increasing the power output per supported configuration, the single cell is configured unit volume/mass, facilitating sealing at high as thin layers on the interconnect or a porous temperatures, and decreasing costs. substrate. Each of these structures has its own Innovative technologies are needed urgently to increase efficiencies of chemical to electrical energy conversions, thereby decreasing associated environmental burdens. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are potentially attractive reactors for direct, highly efficient, environmentally-benign conversion of chemical to electrical energy, with prospective markets estimated at billions of pounds. However, they have yet to be mass-produced, because of complex, expensive processing procedures used hitherto, which require simplifying and because advantages and disadvantages. For instance, the operating temperatures need to be decreased, without electrolyte-supported configuration possesses a compromising reactor performance. relatively strong structure and is less susceptible to failure due to anode oxidation and cathode reduction. However, it also has higher resistance due to the thicker electrolyte layer, so higher operating temperatures are required to minimize ohmic potential losses in the electrolyte. Lower operating temperatures may be achieved by using anode- supported or cathode-supported configurations with a thin electrolyte, but production of fully dense, gas- impermeable electrolyte layers becomes more difficult with decreasing thickness.

A single SOFC can be shaped into tubular, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Reactions: 2- - flat-plate or planar, bell-and-spigot, banded, or Anode Reaction: 2 H2 + 2 O => 2 H2O + 4 e corrugated structures. The tubular SOFC - 2- Cathode Reaction: O + 4 e => 2 O configuration has been favoured by e.g. 2 Westinghouse/, because such a single cell Overall Cell Reaction: 2 H2 + O2 => 2 H2O may be relatively easy to assemble into a cell stack, Comparision between various Types of Fuel Cells

Proceedings of 2nd IRAJ International Conference, 13th October 2013, Trivandrum, India. ISBN: 978-93-82702-33-7

52 Future Economy - Fuel Cells Economy

IV. BLOOM ENERGY SERVER Graphs

Bloom Energy Server generates clean, reliable power onsite with minimal environmental impact, making the Bloom Energy Server one of the most sustainable solutions on the market today. When compared to alternative sources, Bloom delivers superior results, whether sustainability is measured in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, avoided air pollutants, reduced water use, small physical footprint, quiet operation, recyclability, high efficiency - or all of the above.Bloom Energy Server is already installed in U.S California in these years (i.e. 2002-13) but it has limitation of cost but we can come out of this problem with the water reduction using solar power. One Bloom Energy Server costs more than 1 lakh but when it comes to mass production it’s not a problem of cost as it is giving 24/7 Electricity without causing pollution.

CONCLUSION

If we are completely shifted towards Bloom Energy Server Statistics: hydrogen economy from fossil fuels economy then Single Bloom Energy Server with a foot we can have sustainable development in every corner. print of parking space provides 100 Wattspower to Hydrogen economy not only provides better customers efficiencies, it also protects our environment by Single Fuel Cell = 25 W reducing pollution. Stack of fuel cell = 1 kW Module = 25kW REFERENCES System = 100 kW Solution (Bloom Energy Server) = 100 Avg. U.S 1. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/electrochemicalengineering/resea Homes (i.e. 100 kW to MW’s) rch/currentprojects/solarhydrogen 2. http://www.bloomenergy.com/ For the problems with electricity production 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle we can have the solution with bloom energy server. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water Bloom Energy Serveris based on SOFC’s. In normal 5. Modelling and Operation of a Photoelectrochemical Reactor Fuel cells we are having water as a by-product, here for H2 Production: Practical Reactor Development, C. Carver, Z. Ulissi, C.K Ong, S. Dennison, G.H Kelsall, K. Hellgardt, also same but we can reuse it without having problem Int.J.Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 37 (3), 2911 – 2923. of replacement.

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Proceedings of 2nd IRAJ International Conference, 13th October 2013, Trivandrum, India. ISBN: 978-93-82702-33-7

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