The presentation discusses the history and future potential of fuel cells and hydrogen as alternatives to oil. It notes that fuel cells were first developed in 1839 and used in the 1960s by NASA for the Apollo missions. The Bush Administration has committed to developing hydrogen technologies to reduce oil demand and carbon emissions by 2040. Fuel cells work by using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity through chemical reactions, with water and heat as byproducts. Challenges include cost, storage, and infrastructure, but applications include transportation, stationary power sources, and more. The presentation highlights examples of fuel cell use in vehicles, rural electrification projects, and more to argue that hydrogen technologies represent a promising clean energy future.

1. The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Story
A Presentation by
Debajyoti Bose
M Tech Renewable Energy Engineering

2. Why Fuel Cells?
• The main reasons has everything to do with oil
• Political Factors
• The Global Warming Scenario
• Hydrogen is the most abundant
element in the known universe

3. Bush Administration’s Hydrogen
Commitment
• 500 metric tons of carbon saved each year
by 2040
• Reduce demand for oil by 11 million barrels
per day by 2040
• Child born in 2003 to drive a hydrogen car
at age 16
• Fuel cell technologies are an attractive
alternative to oil dependency
• Renewable, environmentally-friendly ways
of producing hydrogen in the future

4. Mechanism
Requires:
• An anode
• A Cathode
• An Electrolyte
• A Catalyst
• Fuel
• Oxidant

5. How did it all start?
 Welsh Physicist, William Grove was the
pioneer of Fuel Cell Technology
 In 1955, W. Thomas Grubb further modified
it
 3 years later, Leonard Niedrach, devised a
way of depositing platinum onto the
membrane, served as catalyst for the
necessary hydrogen oxidation and oxygen
reduction reactions
 Project Gemini , 1965, prelude to the Apollo
moon missions

6. The Extra Vehicular Activity
• The first commercial use of fuel
cells was in NASA space
programs to generate power
• The Apollo moon missions was
powered single handedly by
fuel cells
• Fuel cells were a vital
component of the power system
• Armstrong describes as “one
small step for man, one giant
leap for mankind”

7. The International Space Station
• Fuel cells provide
drinking water to the
astronauts on board
• Green Flag for fuel
cells, yellow for
batteries

8. • Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)
• Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel
Cells (PEMFC)
• Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)
• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC)
• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
(MCFC)
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)
Types of Fuel cells

9. Advantages Of Fuel Cells
Clean Energy Source
• By-product involves water and heat
High Efficiency
• Average: 60% Cogeneration: 80%
• More efficient than combustion engines
Noise Reduction
• No combustion required- pumps and compressors produce small
vibrations which are relatively silent

10. Disadvantages Of Fuel Cells
Cost
• Expensive
• Catalyst cost (usually platinum)
Durability
• A 100 degrees Celsius temperature target is required in order for a fuel
cell to have a higher tolerance to impurities in fuel
Infrastructure
• Hydrogen generation and delivery infrastructure
Storage and Other Considerations
• Safety Hazards associated with Hydrogen

11. An Outlook: Automobiles

12. Refining Designs
• Boosting fuel cell efficiency
is now top priority
• Combining fuel cell and
battery-powered vehicles
• Ford Motors and Airstream
are developing a concept
vehicle powered by a hybrid
fuel cell drive train named
the HySeries Drive
• The vehicle uses a lithium
battery to power the car,
while the fuel cell recharges
the battery

13. Refining Designs
• The hydrogen-powered Honda
FCX Clarity
• Available to the people of
Southern California
• The DaimlerChrysler NECAR fuel
cell vehicle drives along a 17-
mile stretch of coastline

14. Endless Forms Most Beautiful
• Establishment of hydrogen filling
stations
• An initiative by SHELL

15. Problems associated with Hydrogen
Safety Hazards
• Hydrogen is highly flammable and combustible
• Hydrogen leakage may cause explosions
• Pure hydrogen is poisonous
 Efforts are under way to develop fuel-cell batteries that would use
hydrogen or other fuels that can be converted to hydrogen
 These mini power plants would produce electricity directly from
hydrogen and oxygen, with the only discharge being water vapor

16. Innovation At Work
A FUEL CELL THAT RUNS ON WASTE
• Developed by environmental engineers at
Pennsylvania State University
• Runs on wastewater
• Uses microbes to break down organic
matter
• The matter in turn releases hydrogen and
electrons
• Output is heat and pure water

17. Making Hydrogen Work
Highlights:
• Low-pressure and low-
temperature fuel processors able
to produce hydrogen from
hydrocarbon fuels.
• Use of coal-derived synthetic gas
as a source of hydrogen
• Extraction of hydrogen from
fossil fuels
• An imaginative array of new
processes based on:
– Water splitting,
– Biomass and wastewater
reforming, and
– Renewable electrolysis

18. Rural Electrification – Success Story
• In South Africa it is estimated
that over 2 000 000 households
are without electricity
• Over 1 000 000 are located in
rural areas
• The plan by the Department of
Energy is to make electricity
available to these households by
2025
• Despite these plans there are
potentially 600 000 households
and 20 000 schools and clinics in
remote rural areas where
extending existing grid power
connection comes at a significant
cost

19. Rural Electrification – Success Story
• Fuel cells mini grid electrification technology is an attractive, cost
competitive alternative to grid electrification in remote areas
• Offers more efficient low carbon options
• No reliance on the weather
• Anglo American Platinum in partnership with Ballard Power Systems is
implementing the use of methanol fuel cell technology
• Power to 34 households in the Naledi Trust Community

20. Beautiful Chemistry Better Tomorrow
Components of the System
• 3 Platinum based 5 KW fuel cells
• Each with a methanol reformer
• Integrated into a power
generation system that includes:
1. Inverters
2. Controls
3. Battery Bank
• Methanol fuel tank
Benefits
• Students can study late at night
• No use of paraffin stove for
cooking
• Access to refrigeration and
television
• Supporting local jobs
• Sustainability in the Platinum
mining industry

21. Endless Forms most Beautiful

22. Applications Of Fuel Cells
Stationary
• Supplemental generators
• Distributed power sources
Transportation
• Fuel Cell Vehicle
• Hybrid Vehicles
• Future: trains, airplanes, boats
Consumer Electronics
• Laptops, cell phones, video recorders

23. References
• “How Does a Fuel Cell Work.”
http://www.utcfuelcells.com/fuelcell/how_fl.shtml
• “Hydrogen Fuel Initiative Can Make ‘Fundamental Difference:’ Remarks
by the President on Energy Independence.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/release/2003/02
• Lavelle, Marianne. “Living Without Oil.” US News and World Report. 17
Feb.2003. Page 32
• Rifkin, Jeremy. “The Hydrogen Economy.” Tarcher/Putnam. New York.
2002
• “U.S. Oil Imports - Top 10 Countries of Origin.”
http://www.ott.doe.gov/facts/archives/fotw246.shtml

24. References (Continued)
• “Daily Auto Insider, The.” http://www.caranddriver.com12 Feb. 2003
• “Fact Sheet: Hydrogen Fuel: a Clean and Secure Energy Future.” 6 Feb.
2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/release/2003/02
• Hall, Larry. “General Motors tries out a Hy-Wire act with new fuel-cell
vehicle.” The Oregonian. 25 Jan. 2003
UPES Library:
• Renewable Energy in Non Technical Language, Ann Chambers, PennWell
Corporation
• Alternative Fuels, SS Thipse, Jaico Publishers
• Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, Godfrey Boyle, OUP
• Renewable Energy Resources, John Twidell, Tony Weir,
Taylor & Francis

25. THANK YOU !!!
A Presentation By:
Debajyoti Bose
R120214007
M Tech, Renewable Energy Engineering
Department of Electrical, Power & Energy
Engineering