28-09-2013, 02:42 PM
NANO Fuel Cell
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What is Fuel cell?
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
Working principle of fuel cell?
A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity.
The core of each fuel cell consists of an electrolyte and two electrodes.
At the negative anode, a fuel such as hydrogen is being oxidized, while at the positive cathode, oxygen is reduced
Types of Fuel cell
Fuel cells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte they employ.
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
Alkali fuel cells .
Phosphoric Acid fuel cells (PAFC).
Molten Carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) .
Solid Oxide fuel cells (SOFC).
Regenerative Fuel Cells (RFC).
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC).
Advantage of PEMFC
It operates at relatively low temperatures, around 80°C .
Low-temperature operation allows them to start quickly (less warm-up time) and results in less wear on system components, resulting in better durability.
Longer life.
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)
In this cell also polymer is an electrolyte and charge carrier is the hydrogen ions.
Liquid methanol (CH3OH) is converted to carbon dioxide and hydrogen and electron at the anode.
Electron travel through the external circuit and form water at cathode.
Application of Fuel cell
Fuel Cell Today categorizes the use of fuel cells into three broad areas: portable power generation, stationary power generation, and power for transportation.
It can also be used in vehicles, submarine, portable power plant for spacecraft, locomotives, defense.
Here we will discuss it one by one.
Application in transportation
Fuel Cell today defines fuel cells for transport as any units that provide propulsive power to a vehicle, directly or indirectly. This includes the following applications for the technology:
Forklift trucks and other goods handling vehicles such as airport baggage trucks etc.
Two- and three-wheeler vehicles such as scooters.
Light duty vehicles (LDVs), such as cars and vans.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs), for example, for reconnaissance.
The most prevalent fuel cell vehicles are forklifts and material handling vehicles.
Application in cogeneration
Combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell systems, including Micro combined heat and power (Micro CHP) systems are used to generate both electricity and heat for office , building and factories. The system generates constant electric power (selling excess power back to the grid when it is not consumed), and at the same time produces hot air and water from the waste heat. Micro CHP is usually less than 5 kW for a or small business.
Co-generation systems can reach 85% efficiency (40–60% electric + remainder as thermal).