Fuel Cells

Study Notes

A fuel cell converts chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a pair of redox reactions.
Fuel cells require a continuous source of fuel and oxygen to sustain the reaction, unlike batteries.
Fuel cells have been used in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, remote areas, and vehicles.
Fuel cells consist of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte that allows ions to move between the two sides of the cell.
Fuel cells can produce voltages from 0.6 to 0.7 V at full rated load and can be combined in series and parallel to deliver more energy.
Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) use a proton-conducting polymer membrane and platinum as the catalyst.
Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs) use phosphoric acid as the electrolyte and platinum as the catalyst.
Solid acid fuel cells (SAFCs) use a solid acid material as the electrolyte.
Alkaline fuel cells (AFC) use a concentrated solution of KOH or NaOH as the electrolyte.
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) use a ceramic material called yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as the electrolyte and require high operating temperatures.Fuel cells are devices that convert the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction. There are different types of fuel cells, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC). PEMFC and SOFC are used in transportation and stationary power generation, while MCFC is used mostly in stationary power generation. Fuel cells have high energy efficiency, ranging from 40-60%, and can reach up to 85% when combined with a turbine and heat and power systems. The high operating temperature is one of the main challenges of SOFC and MCFC systems, but research has shown ways to reduce operating temperature and increase efficiency. Fuel cells are also used in cogeneration systems to generate both electricity and heat for homes and factories. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are an emerging technology and have been leased or sold worldwide.Fuel cell technology is being used in various vehicles, including cars, buses, trains, trucks, forklifts, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, and submarines. Fuel cell electric vehicles have an average range of 505 km and can be refueled in less than 5 minutes. However, critics argue that fuel cells are not economically competitive and will take decades to become profitable. The lack of an extensive hydrogen infrastructure is another challenge. Portable power systems using fuel cells have a great power generation per weight, making them ideal for remote locations. As of 2019, there were 330 hydrogen refueling stations open to the public worldwide.- Fuel cell industry revenues exceeded $1 billion in 2012 worldwide.
Asian pacific countries shipped over 75% of the fuel cell systems worldwide.
No public company in the industry was yet profitable as of January 2014.
Tanaka Kikinzoku expanded its manufacturing facilities in 2011.
The four dominant producers in the Fuel Cell Industry were the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.
Bloom Energy fuel cells generated power at 9–11 cents per kilowatt-hour, including the price of fuel, maintenance, and hardware.
Industry groups predict that there are sufficient platinum resources for future demand.
Samsung dropped fuel cell-related business projects in 2016 due to the market's poor outlook.
Research is being conducted to replace platinum with a gold-palladium coating or iron and sulfur.
PEDOT cathodes are immune to monoxide poisoning.

Description

Are you curious about fuel cells and their applications in various industries? Test your knowledge with our quiz on fuel cells! From the different types of fuel cells to their efficiency and challenges, this quiz covers it all. Learn about the latest developments in fuel cell technology, including fuel cell electric vehicles and portable power systems. Challenge yourself with trivia on the fuel cell industry, including its revenues and dominant producers. Take the quiz and discover how much you know about this fascinating technology!