The document provides an overview of fuel cells, focusing on their types, working mechanisms, and specific designs such as Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). It also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of fuel cell technology, including applications in transportation and remote power generation. Fuel cells are positioned as a potential solution to energy crises and pollution challenges.

2. CONTENT
 Introduction
 Over view of fuel cell
 Five types of Fuel cells
 PEMFC – instrumentation, working
 Types of PEMFC
 Applications
 Advantages
 Disadvantages

3. PIONEER OF FUEL CELL
 The first fuel cells were invented by
“Sir William Grove” in 1838.
 The first commercial Fuel Cell was
the Hydrogen – Oxygen Fuel Cell by
Francis Thomas Bacon in 1932.
Sir William Grove

4. WHAT IS FUEL CELL ?
 Fuel cells are electrochemical cells consisting
of two electrodes and an electrolyte which
convert the chemical energy of chemical
reaction between fuel and oxidant directly into
electrical energy.
FUEL
OXYGE
N
OXYDATI
ON
ELECTRICI
TY

5. COMPONENTS OF FUEL CELL
 Electrodes
Anode & Cathode - Materials which have high electron
conductivity & zero proton conductivity in the form of porous
catalyst (porous catalyst or carbon).
 Electrolyte - High proton conductivity & zero electron
conductivity.
 Catalyst – To enhance the speed of reaction
Eg : Platinum

6. SIMPLE WORKING
1. The fuel (direct H2 or reformed H2) undergoes oxidation at anode
and releases electrons.
2. These electrons flow through the external circuit to the cathode.
3. At cathode, oxidant (O2 from air) gets reduced.
4. The electrons produce electricity while passing through the external
circuit. Electricity is generated continuously as long as fuel and the
oxidant are continuously and separately supplied to the electrodes of
the cell from reservoirs outside the electrochemical cell.

7. REACTIONS

8. TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
 PAFC - Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
 MCFC - Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
 AFC - Alkaline Fuel Cell
 SOFC - Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
 PEMFC - Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel
Cell

9. PEMFC
 Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell consists
of an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between
an anode (negative electrode) and a cathode
(positive electrode).
 PEM fuel cells work with a polymer electrolyte
in the form of a thin, permeable sheet and allow
hydrogen protons to pass through but prohibit the
passage of electrons and heavier gases.

10. INSTRUMENTATION
 Electrolyte
 Electrode
 Glass Diffusion Layer
 Current Collector

11. WORKING OF PEMFC
Hydrogen fuel is processed at the
anode where electrons and
protons are separated.
 The protons pass through the
membrane to the cathode while
electrons travel in an external
circuit, generating current.
On cathode side protons and
electrons combine with oxygen
to produce water.

13. REACTIONS

14. TYPES OF PEMFC
1. High Temperature
PEMFC
2. Direct Methanol
PEMFC

15. 1. HIGH TEMPERATURE PEMFC
 The working temperature is increased upto 200 degree
Celsius when compared to PEMFC .
 The electrolyte membrane differs due to decrease in
proton conductivity.
 The membranes used are
1.Modified perfluoro sulphonated membranes,
2.Alternative sulphonated polymers and their
composite
3.Acid-base polymer membranes and their
composites.,
 Recently used membrane is Polybenzimidazole (PBI) .

16. BENEFITS OF HT-PEMFC
Due to increase in temperarure the advantages are
 kinetics of both the electrode reactions are enhanced,
 tolerance of the Pt electrodes to carbon monoxide is
increased,
 non-noble metal catalysts may be used,
 the cooling system for facilitating heat dissipation is
simplified.

17. 2. DIRECT METHANOL PEMFC
 DMFC uses methanol instead of hydrogen gas.
 At anode :
 At the cathode :
METHAN
OL
ELECTRO
N
PROTO
N
CO2
ELECTR
ON
HYDROG
EN IONS
OXYGE
N
WATER

18. APPLICATIONS
 Due to light weight and high power density ,it is used in
transportation.
 It is implemented in TATA bus STARLINE which runs
in Fuel Cell Technology.
 Small scale power packs for remote, unattended and
military application .
 Portable generation systems for domestic, industrial,
military and maritime application .

19. TATA STARBUS – FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

20. ADVANTAGES
 Easy construction
Solid electrolyte
Low working temperature
Fast start-Up

21. DISADVANTAGES
 Water flood management
 Noble metal catalyst
 High sensitive

22. CONCLUSION
 Today energy crises and environmental pollution has turned
into a great problem for human.
 For solving these problems vast efforts to replace fossil fuels
with other energy sources such as its connotation clean fuel
have been taken.
 Fuel cells due to their particular properties are on the verge of
creating a vast revolutionary change in the field of electricity.
In the PEM fuel cells, from solid polymer electrolytes which
have the ability to transfer of proton, has used as membrane.

23. THANK YOU