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    Fuel Cell - Type 1: Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)

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    Pavan Kishor
    The document describes alkaline fuel cells (AFC), including: 1) AFCs use a potassium hydroxide electrolyte and consume hydrogen and oxygen to efficiently produce electricity, water, and heat. 2) The electrochemical process involves hydrogen oxidizing to produce electrons at the anode and oxygen being reduced at the cathode. 3) While AFCs have high efficiency and were used in NASA's space missions, their sensitivity to carbon dioxide limits them to closed systems with pure hydrogen and oxygen. Their commercial applications are primarily stationary backup power.

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    Fuel Cell - Type 1: Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)

    Uploaded by

    Pavan Kishor
    25 views25 pages
    The document describes alkaline fuel cells (AFC), including: 1) AFCs use a potassium hydroxide electrolyte and consume hydrogen and oxygen to efficiently produce electricity, water, and heat. 2) The electrochemical process involves hydrogen oxidizing to produce electrons at the anode and oxygen being reduced at the cathode. 3) While AFCs have high efficiency and were used in NASA's space missions, their sensitivity to carbon dioxide limits them to closed systems with pure hydrogen and oxygen. Their commercial applications are primarily stationary backup power.

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    AFC-Latest

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    The document describes alkaline fuel cells (AFC), including: 1) AFCs use a potassium hydroxide electrolyte and consume hydrogen and oxygen to efficiently produce electricity, water, and heat. 2) The electrochemical process involves hydrogen oxidizing to produce electrons at the anode and oxygen being reduced at the cathode. 3) While AFCs have high efficiency and were used in NASA's space missions, their sensitivity to carbon dioxide limits them to closed systems with pure hydrogen and oxygen. Their commercial applications are primarily stationary backup power.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    25 views25 pages

    Fuel Cell - Type 1: Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)

    Uploaded by

    Pavan Kishor
    The document describes alkaline fuel cells (AFC), including: 1) AFCs use a potassium hydroxide electrolyte and consume hydrogen and oxygen to efficiently produce electricity, water, and heat. 2) The electrochemical process involves hydrogen oxidizing to produce electrons at the anode and oxygen being reduced at the cathode. 3) While AFCs have high efficiency and were used in NASA's space missions, their sensitivity to carbon dioxide limits them to closed systems with pure hydrogen and oxygen. Their commercial applications are primarily stationary backup power.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 25

    Fuel Cell – Type 1

    Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC)


    What is AFC?

    • The Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) is one of the


    most developed fuel cell technologies and
    is the cell that flew Man to the Moon.
    • AFCs consume hydrogen and pure oxygen
    producing potable water, heat, and
    electricity.
    • They are among the most efficient fuel cells,
    having the potential to reach 70%.
    Working
    Explanation
    • The fuel cell produces power through a
    redox reaction between hydrogen and
    oxygen.
    • At Anode, hydrogen is oxidized as below.

    – This reaction produces water and releases 2


    electrons.
    – These electrons flow through an external
    circuit and return to cathode, reducing
    oxygen.
    Explanation Cont.
    • At Cathode, oxygen is reduced as below.

    – The oxygen molecule combines with the electron


    and water and gets reduced to hydroxide ions.

    • The net reaction consumes one oxygen


    molecule and two hydrogen molecules in
    the production of two water molecules.
    Electricity and heat are formed as by-
    products of this reaction.
    Complete
    CompleteReaction
    ReactionEquations
    Equations

    Anode Reaction: 2 H2 + 4 OH- => 4 H2O + 4 e-

    Cathode reaction: O2 + 2 H2O + 4 e- => 4 OH-

    Overall Net Reaction: 2 H2 + O2 => 2 H2O


    Operating Conditions
    • Alkaline fuel cells use an electrolyte that is an
    aqueous (water-based) solution of potassium
    hydroxide (KOH) retained in a porous stabilized
    matrix and can use a variety of non-precious
    metals as a catalyst at the anode and cathode.

    • The concentration of KOH can be varied with the


    fuel cell operating temperature, which ranges
    from 65°C to 220°C (149°F to 428°F).

    • However, newer AFC designs operate at lower


    temperatures of roughly 23°C to 70°C (74°F to
    158°F).
    Operating Conditions Cont.
    • The charge carrier for an AFC is the
    hydroxyl ion (OH-) that migrates from the
    cathode to the anode where they react with
    hydrogen to produce water and electrons.

    • Water formed at the anode migrates back to


    the cathode to regenerate hydroxyl ions.
    Advantages of AFC
    • AFCs are the cheapest fuel cells to manufacture. (Reason: The
    catalyst required for the electrodes can be any of a number of
    different chemicals that are relatively inexpensive compared to
    those required for other types of fuel cells).
    • AFCs' has the highest performance among all types of fuel
    cells. (Reason: The rate at which chemical reactions take place
    in the cell is very fast).
    • Low material costs – plastics, carbon, base metals and metal
    oxides; no platinum.
    • Long life span – 2000-plus hours currently.
    • Superior electrochemical conversion efficiency to other fuel
    cells and the internal combustion engine.
    • Quick start, even in sub-freezing temperatures down to minus
    40 degrees C.
    • Simpler heat and water management when compared to other
    fuel cell technologies.
    • Like other fuel cells, it is odorless and quiet for enclosed
    applications
    Limitations of AFC
    • AFCs are very sensitive to CO2 that may be
    present in the fuel or air.

    – The CO2 reacts with the electrolyte, poisoning it rapidly,


    and severely degrading the fuel cell performance.
    – Therefore, AFCs are limited to closed environments, such
    as space and undersea vehicles, and must be run on pure
    hydrogen and oxygen.
    – Furthermore, molecules such as CO, H 2O and CH4, which
    are harmless or even work as fuels to other fuel cells, are
    poisons to an AFC.

    • AFC stacks have been shown to maintain


    sufficiently stable operation for more than 8,000
    operating hours. To be economically viable in
    large-scale utility applications, these fuel cells
    need to reach operating times exceeding 40,000
    hours.
    Issues
    • AFCs are not being considered for
    automobile applications. Their sensitivity to
    poisoning, which requires use of pure or
    cleansed hydrogen and oxygen, is an
    insurmountable obstacle at the present
    time. (Note: NASA has made the decision
    to shift to Proton-exchange fuel cells for the
    next generation of Space Shuttles).

    • Conversely, AFCs operate at relatively low


    temperatures and are among the most
    efficient fuel cells, characteristics that
    would enable a quick starting power source
    and high fuel efficiency, respectively.
    Popular Applications
     Stationary – such as back up
    power for communication
    towers, data centers.
     Portable – such as prime or
    auxiliary power for worksites,
    cottages, boats.
     Transportation – such as
    neighborhood electric vehicles,
    golf cars, fork lift vehicles
    AFC Applications Deployed
    • Used by Space Program.
    • Developed by NASA to power
    the Gemini Missions and
    Subsequent Shuttle Operations.
    Picture of the AFC used in Space Shuttle
    Present Applications
    • Fuel Cell Taxi & Boat
    http://www.infotools.hfpeurop
    e.org/energyinfos__e/fuelcells/
    main06.html

    • Generator and Golf Car


    http://www.astris.ca/PR/PR50.
    php
    Future Developments - ALKANLINE FUEL
    CELL – TECHNOLOGY FOR THE 21st
    CENTURY

    • Alkaline cells, just like alkaline based batteries,


    are reliable performers that can be built
    inexpensively from down-to-earth materials –
    carbon, plastic, base metals; they use cheap
    electrolyte, start instantly and perform even in
    deep subzero temperatures. They do not depend
    on expensive platinum catalyst. And one of the
    alkaline cell problems often quoted by their
    detractors – their limited tolerance to carbon
    dioxide – has been solved by engineers many
    times over.
    • The complete article is in a PDF format and its
    uploaded in directory “MURU” under the name
    “AFC-Future.PDF”.
    More Pictures
    More Pictures Cont.
    Activities - 1
    • What is the electrolyte used in AFC?
    – NaOH
    – KOH
    – LiOH
    – Ca(OH)2
    Activities - 2
    • How much operating hours should any
    fuel cell posses to be economically viable in
    large-scale utility applications?
    – > 8000 Hours
    – Between 8000 Hours & 40,000 Hours
    – < 40,000 Hours
    – > 40,000 Hours
    Activities - 3
    • What makes AFCs cheaper to
    manufacture?
    – Due to inexpensive cathode.
    – Due to inexpensive anode.
    – Due to lesser working temperature conditions.
    – Due to inexpensive electrolyte.
    Activities - 4
    • Which fuel cell is being replaced for AFCs
    in the next generation space shuttles?
    – Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell.
    – Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.
    – Proton Exchange Fuel Cell.
    – Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell.
    Fuel Cell Resources
    • http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/
    pid537.php
    • http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/
    pid556.php
    • http://www.eere.energy.gov/hy
    drogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/fc
    _parts.html
    • http://www.kettering.edu/~altf
    uel/links.htm
    Resources for Pictures
    • http://www.kettering.edu/~altf
    uel/fcpicts.htm
    • http://www.ectechnic.co.uk/pic
    tures.html
    •The End!

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