Proton Exchange Membrane

Fuel cell

History

Invented in early 1960s at General

electric

First used by NASA to provide power

for gemini space project

Operation

In PEMFC, the electrolyte used is a

thin polymer membrane (such as
poly[perfluorosulphonic] acid, which
are permeable to protons but does
not conduct electrons
Hydrogen flows into the fuel cell onto
the anode and is split into hydrogen
ions and electrons

Cont..

Hydrogen ions permeate across the

electrolyte to the cathode
Electrons flow through an external
circuit and provide power
Oxygen is supplied to the cathode
and this combines with electrons and
hydrogen ions to produce water
PEMFC operate at a temperature of
around 80C

Cont..

Cont..

Electrolyte is sandwiched between

two field flow plates to create a fuel
cell
Each cell produces around 0.7 volts,
about enough power to run a light
bulb
To generate high voltage, a number
of individual cells are combined in
series

Advantages

Operate at low temperatures which allows

them to start up rapidly from cold
High power density which makes them
really compact and lightweight
PEMFC work at high efficiencies, producing
around 40-50 percent of the maximum
voltage, and can vary their output quickly
to meet shifts in power demand

Disadvantages

Needs pure hydrogen to operate as

they are very susceptible to poisoning
by carbon monoxide and other
impurities

Current research

At present, demonstration units capable of

producing 50kw are in operation and units
producing 200kw are under development
Still number of barriers need to be
overcome
The main issue is that the cost of
membrane and catalysts are expensive but
the ongoing research and development is
constantly reducing the cost.

Applications

In 1995,Ballard systems tested PEM

cells in buses in Chicago and later in
experimental vehicles made by
Daimler Chrysler
In 2000,AeroVironments selected PEM
technology to provide night time
power for its solar powered Helios
long duration aircraft

Q&A
1.What is the operating temperature for
PEMFC?
1000C
500C
250C
80C

Cont..
2.What is the electrolyte used in
PEMFC?
Lithium sodium carbonate salts
Liquid phosphoric acid
Potassium hydroxide
Perfluorosulphonic acid

Cont..
3.What is the amount of voltage
produced by each cell in PEMFC?
10 V
20 V
5.5 V
0.7 V

Cont..
4.Which of the following matches the
needs and characteristics of PEMFC?
Pure hydrogen
Feedstocks free from carbon-dioxide
Membrane materials and catalysts are
inexpensive
Capable of producing output
equivalent to 50kw

Cont..
5.Which of the following are susceptible
to CO?
PEM fuel cell
Alkaline fuel cell
Solid oxide fuel cell
Molten carbonate fuel cell

Storage medium for

Hydrogen

Storage methods

Hydrogen can be stored as

compressed gas or as a cooled liquid
Despite these methods storing
hydrogen to power a car requires a
large tank

Obstacle

With the current technology, the

compressed hydrogen tank size
required to contain 6.8 kg hydrogen
for a 1500 kg vehicle with a driving
range of 560km is 340 litres.
A typical gasoline tank for such a
vehicle is 70 litres

Current trend

Currently the hydrogen is injected

directly into the cell
There is a tank which holds methanol
Methanol and water vaporize forming
hydrogen