this is the report on Hydrogen Fuel cell. which is the future of vehicles & probably future of electric vehicles. Hydrogen Fuel cell is the one part or type of fuel cell. here is the working, advantages, disadvantages of fuel cell vehicles. as well as there are list of popular fuel cell vehicles recently launched. 23-03-2020

1. PURVESH D. SHINDE
175054
ME5A

2. INTRODUCTION
• Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs) are a type of
electrochemical cell.
• HFCs generate electricity by reduction and oxidation
reactions within the cell.
• They use three main components, a fuel, an oxidant
and an electrolyte.
• HFCs operate like batteries, although they require
external fuel.
• HFCs are a thermodynamically open system.
• HFCs use hydrogen as a fuel, oxygen as an oxidant, a
proton exchange membrane as an electrolyte, and emit
only water as waste.

3. TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
 Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
(PEMFC)
 Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
◦ Requires high purity H2 due to
contamination issues
◦ Used in space program since 1960’s
 Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
◦ Large scale power plants (T = 1000 0C)
◦ Steam production leads to improved
efficiency
 Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)
◦ Large scale power plants (T = 600 0C)
◦ Less expensive than SOFC
 Phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC)
◦ Small power plants
◦ Long warm-up time makes it poor choice
for automobiles

4. PARTS IN FUEL CELL
 Anode
– Negative post of the fuel cell.
– Conducts the electrons that are freed from the
hydrogen molecules so that they can be used in
an external circuit.
– Etched channels disperse hydrogen gas over
surface of catalyst.
 Cathode
– Positive post of the fuel cell
– Etched channels distribute oxygen to the
of the catalyst.
– Conducts electrons back from the external
circuit to the catalyst
– Recombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen
to form water.
 Electrolyte
– Proton exchange membrane.
– Specially treated material, only conducts
positively charged ions.
– Membrane blocks electrons.
 Catalyst
– Special material that facilitates reaction of
oxygen and hydrogen
– Usually platinum powder very thinly coated
carbon paper or cloth.
– Rough & porous maximizes surface area
exposed to hydrogen or oxygen
– The platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces
the PEM.

5. LAYOUT

6. WORKING
- 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
negatively charged electrons from the positively
charged protons.
- The electrolyte allows the protons to pass
through to the cathode, but not the electrons.
- Instead the electrons are directed through an
external circuit which creates electrical current.
- While the electrons pass through the external
circuit, oxygen molecules pass through the
cathode.

7. - 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.
- Instead the electrons are directed through an
external circuit which creates electrical current.
- 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.

8. ADVANTAGES
• High efficiency as compared to general
efficiency of electric or conventional vehicles.
IC Engine : around 30%
Electric vehicles : around 60 - 70%
Fuel Cell vehicles : around 75 - 80%
• discharge is only water (drinkable).
• Low moving parts means quite operation.
• Very low chemical and acoustical pollution.
• Can use hydrocarbons.
• Cogeneration capability.
• Low maintenance cost.
• Eco-friendly system.

9. DISADVANTAGES
• High initial cost.
• High cost of pure hydrogen.
• If single cell is damaged, whole stack should be
checked.
• No large scale production.
• Carbon dioxide discharges with methanol
reform.
• Technology currently is expensive. Many design
issues still in progress.
• Pure hydrogen is difficult to handle.
• Hydrogen is explosive if comes in contact with
oxygen present in system (stack).
• Requires to maintain high pressure or low
temperature.

10. APPLICATIONS
• The first commercial use of fuel cell was in
NASA space program to generate power in
APOLLO in 1969.
• Electric automobiles can use fuel cells to
generate electricity to drive the electric
motors that drive the wheels.
• Fuel cells from your car could easily power a
block of houses.
• All popular companies like BMW, TATA, GM,
MERCEDES, HONDA, HYUNDAI, FORD,
TOYOTA launches their fuel cell vehicles.

11. VEHICLES LAUNCHED WITH FUEL
CELL
TOYOTA MIRAI HYUNDAI NEXO
HONDA CLARITY MERCEDES BENZ F-CELL
MORGAN LIFE CAR FORD NECAR
TATA STAR BUS F-CELL CORADIA iLint