2. What is Fuel Cell?
Fuel cell is a device that converts chemical
energy from a fuel into electricity through a
chemical reaction with oxygen or another
oxidizing agent
3. Parts of Fuel Cells
There are four main part of Fuel Cells
1. Anode
2. Cathode
3. Electrolyte
4. Catalyst
4. Anode
Anode is negative electrode of Fuel Cell.
In most fuel cells, hydrogen is used as the
negative electrode in pure form or impure
hydrogen is taken as obtained from hydrocarbon
fuel, such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas.
5. Cathode
Cathode is positive electrode of cell.
It conducts the electrons back from the external
circuit to the catalyst, where they can
recombined with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to
form water.
6. Catalyst
To speed up the chemical reaction, a catalyst is
included in the electrodes. The best catalyst are
finally divided platinum or other platinum like
metal deposited on or incorporated porous
electrode material.
8. Working of Fuel cells
Basically, two principal chemical reactions occur
at the interface of the three segments.
The net result of the two reactions is that , when
fuel is consumed, water is formed and an electric
current is produced which can be use to power
electrical devices, normally referred to as the
load.
9. At the anode, a catalyst oxidize the hydrogen fuel
into positively charged ion and negatively charged
electron.
The electrolyte(KOH) allows the protons to travel
to the cathode but blocks the electrons. Thus, the
electrons travel through the wire creating the
electric current,
The ions on reaching the cathode reunite with the
electrons, and the two reacts with a third
chemical, oxygen, to create water.
10. H2O2 Fuel Cell
Hydrogen peroxide(HO) is commonly used as an oxidizer in
rocket. Propulsion and air independent power system.
In H2O2 fuel cells, nickel and silver are used as catalyst for
hydrogen and oxygen respectively.
When used to produce energy, hydrogen peroxide creates
only pure water and oxygen as a by product, so it is
considered as clean energy, like hydrogen.
However, unlike hydrogen, H2O2 exists in liquid form at
room temperature, so it can be easily stored and
transported.