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fuel cells in modren generating station
The document discusses fuel cells as electrochemical devices that generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with water and heat as byproducts. It outlines the importance of fuel cell technology in providing clean, efficient energy compared to traditional combustion methods and details various types of fuel cells, their efficiencies, and applications in transportation, stationary power, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. Additionally, the document highlights challenges in hydrogen production and storage that need to be addressed for widespread fuel cell adoption.
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fuel cells in modren generating station
- 1. Technical Seminar on FUEL CELLS J.SRIKANTH(08FE5A0214) VIGNAN’S LARA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE Vadlamudi , Guntur.
- 2. What is aFuel Cell? • A Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by- product.
- 3. Why is FuelCell Technology Important? • Since conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion. • It is a clean, quiet and highly efficient process- two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.
- 4. How does aFuel Cell work? • It operates similarly to a battery, but it does not run down nor does it require recharging • As long as fuel is supplied, a Fuel Cell will produce both energy and heat • A Fuel Cell consists of two catalyst coated electrodes surrounding an electrolyte • One electrode is an anode and the other is a cathode • The process begins when Hydrogen molecules enter the anode • The catalyst coating separates hydrogen’s negatively charged electrons from the positively charged protons
- 5. How does aFuel Cell work? • While the electrons pass through the external circuit, oxygen molecules pass through the cathode • There the oxygen and the protons combine with the electrons after they have passed through the external circuit • When the oxygen and the protons combine with the electrons it produces water and heat
- 6. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) – This is the leading cell type for passenger car application – Uses a polymer membrane as the electrolyte – Operates at a relatively low temperature, about 175 degrees – Has a high power density, can vary its output quickly and is suited for applications where quick startup is required making it popular for automobiles – Sensitive to fuel impurities
- 7. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Phosphoric Acid – This is the most commercially developed fuel cell – It generates electricity at more than 40% efficiency – Nearly 85% of the steam produced can be used for cogeneration – Uses liquid phosphoric acid as the electrolyte and operates at about 450 degrees F – One main advantage is that it can use impure hydrogen as fuel
- 8. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Molten Carbonate fuel cell • Promises high fuel-to- electricity efficiency and the ability to utilize coal based fuels – Require carbon dioxide and oxygen to be delivered to the cathode – Operates at extremely high temperatures 1200 degrees – Primarily targeted for use as electric utility applications
- 9. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Solid Oxide – Uses a hard, non-porous ceramic compound as the electrolyte – Can reach 60% power- generating efficiency – Operates at extremely high temperatures 1800 degrees – Used mainly for large, high powered applications such as industrial generating stations, mainly because it requires such high temperatures
- 10. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Alkaline Fuel Cell – Used mainly by military and space programs – Can reach 70% power generating efficiency, but considered to costly for transportation applications – Uses a solution of potassium hydroxide in water as the electrolyte and operates at 75 -160 degrees – Purification process of the hydrogen and oxygen is costly
- 11. Major Types ofFuel Cells • Regenerative Fuel Cells – Currently researched by NASA – This type of fuel cell involves a closed loop form of power generation – Uses solar energy to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen – Hydrogen and oxygen are fed into the fuel cell generating electricity, heat and water – The water byproduct is then re-circulated back to the solar-powered electrolysers beginning the process again
- 12. Importance of Hydrogen •Fuel Cells require highly purified hydrogen as a fuel. • Researchers are developing a wide range of technologies to produce hydrogen economically from a variety of resources in environmentally friendly ways.
- 13. Importance of Hydrogen •Hydrogen is a secondary energy resource, meaning it must be made from another fuel • Hydrogen can be produced from a wide variety of energy resources including: – Fossil fuels, such as natural gas and coal – Nuclear energy – Renewable resources, such as solar, water, wind and biomass
- 14. Hydrogen Production • Thebiggest challenge regarding hydrogen production is the cost • Reducing the cost of hydrogen production so as to compete in the transportation sector with conventional fuels on a per-mile basis is a significant hurdle to Fuel Cell’s success in the commercial marketplace
- 15. How will thehydrogen be stored? • Developing safe, reliable, compact and cost- effective hydrogen storage is one of the biggest challenges to widespread use of fuel cell technology • Hydrogen has physical characteristics that make it difficult to store large quantities without taking up a great deal of space
- 16. How will thehydrogen be stored? • Hydrogen has a very high energy content by weight (3x more than gasoline) and a very low energy content by volume (4x less than gasoline) • If the hydrogen is compressed and cryogenically frozen it will take up a very small amount of space requiring a smaller tank, but it must be kept super cold- around -120 to -196 degrees Celsius
- 17. How can FuelCell technology be used? • Transportation • Stationary Power Stations • Telecommunications • Micro Power
- 18. How can FuelCell technology be used? • Transportation – All major automakers are working to commercialize a fuel cell car – Automakers and experts speculate that a fuel cell vehicle will be commercialized by 2010 – 50 fuel cell buses are currently in use in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia – Trains, planes, boats, scooters, forklifts and even bicycles are utilizing fuel cell technology as well
- 19. How can FuelCell technology be used? • Stationary Power Stations – Over 2,500 fuel cell systems have been installed all over the world in hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, office buildings, schools and utility power plants – Most of these systems are either connected to the electric grid to provide supplemental power and backup assurance or as a grid-independent generator for locations that are inaccessible by power lines
- 20. How can FuelCell technology be used? • Telecommunications – Due to computers, the Internet and sophisticated communication networks there is a need for an incredibly reliable power source – Fuel Cells have been proven to be 99.999% reliable
- 21. How can FuelCell technology be used? • Micro Power – Consumer electronics could gain drastically longer battery power with Fuel Cell technology – Cell phones can be powered for 30 days without recharging – Laptops can be powered for 20 hours without recharging
- 22. Fuel cell powerplant
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