The document discusses hydrogen fuel cells, including their history, working principles, types, and applications. It provides the following key points: - Hydrogen fuel cells were discovered in 1838 and work by combining hydrogen and oxygen to efficiently produce electricity and water. This is done through an electrochemical process without combustion. - There are several types of fuel cells including proton exchange membrane, phosphoric acid, solid oxide, and alkaline fuel cells, which differ in their electrolyte and operating temperatures. - Fuel cells have many potential applications from transportation to backup power and are more efficient than combustion engines. They produce only water and heat as byproducts, making them a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

1. RAJASTHAN INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY
JAIPUR
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
A
SEMINAR ON
“HYDROGEN FUEL CELL”
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
Mr. RAGHAV DHAKER PRASHANT KUMAR
(ASTT. PROFESSOR,ME) BRANCH:-ME
Roll No:-

2. CONTENTS
• History
• Hydrogen Energy
• Fuel Cell
• Importance Of Fuel Cell Technology
• Working Of Fuel Cell
• Types Of Fuel Cell
• Importance Of Hydrogen
• Hydrogen Production
• Applications
• Benefits

3. HISTORY
1838: discovered by German scientist
Christian Friedrich Schoenbein
1839: Demonstrated by Welsh scientist Sir
William Robert Grove

4. Hydrogen Energy
Hydrogen is the simplest and the most
plentiful element in the universe.
It's always combined with other
elements.
Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine
that burns pure hydrogen produces almost
no pollution.
 NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the
1970s to propel the space shuttle and other
rockets into orbit.

5. WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?
A Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that
combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce
electricity, with water and heat as its by-product.
overall reaction: oxidation of a fuel by
oxygen
2H2(g) + O2(g)  2H2O(l)
(Hydrogen) Fuel + oxygen  water

6. WHY IS FUEL CELL 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.

7. How does a Fuel 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

8. 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

9.  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
 There the oxygen and the protons combine with the
electrons after they have passed through the external
circuit

10. When the oxygen and the protons combine with the
electrons it produces water and heat

11. TYPES OF FUEL CELLS
Fuel Cell type Electrolyte Anode gas Cathode gas Temp
oC
Efficiency
%
Proton Ex
Membrane (PEM)
Solid polymer
membrane
Hydrogen Pure or Atm
Oxygen
75 35 - 60
Alkaline
(AFC)
Potassium
Hydroxide
Hydrogen Pure Oxygen < 80 50 - 70
Direct Methanol
( DMFC)
Solid polymer
membrane
Methanol solln
in Water
Atm Oxygen 75 35 - 40
Phosphoric Acid
(PAFC)
Phosphorus Hydrogen Atm Oxygen 210 35 - 50
Molten Carbonate
(MCFC)
Alkali Carbonate Hydrogen /
Methane
Atm Oxygen 650 40 - 55
Solid Oxide
( SOFC)
Ceramic Oxides Hydrogen /
Methane
Atm Oxygen 800 -
1000
45 - 60

12. 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
 Sensitive to fuel impurities

14. Phosphoric Acid
 This is the most commercially
developed fuel cell
 It generates electricity at more than
40% efficiency
 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

15. 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

16. Alkaline
 Used mainly by military and space programs
 Can reach 70% power generating efficiency, but considered to
costly for transportation applications
 Used on the Apollo spacecraft to provide electricity and
drinking water
 Uses a solution of potassium hydroxide in water as the
electrolyte and operates at 75 -160 degrees
 Can use a variety of non-precious metals as catalyst at the
anode and cathode

18. 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 by product is then recirculated back to the
solar-powered electrolyser beginning the process again

19. 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

20. Hydrogen Production
The biggest challenge regarding hydrogen production is
the cost
There are three general categories of Hydrogen
production
 Thermal Processes
 Electrolyte Processes
Photolytic Processes

21. Fuel Cell Technology Be Used
 Transportation
 Stationary Power Stations
 Telecommunications
 Micro Power

22. Benefits Of Fuel Cell Technology
Physical Security
 Reliability
 Efficiency
 Environmental Benefits
 Battery Replacement/Alternative
 Military Applications

23. Hydrogen - Today
Production Storage
Use
Steam Reforming
of Petroleum
Cryogenic Liquid
Space Programme

24. Hydrogen - Tomorrow
Production
Storage
Use
Bio-mass &
Electrolysis
Innovative Tank
Designs
Fuel for FUEL CELLS

25. Hydrogen Production For Future
Photo-
electrochemical
Algal Production
Solar powered
Electrolysis