9.2 Types of Fuel Cells and Their Applications

Fuel cells come in various types, each with unique characteristics and applications. From low-temperature PEM cells ideal for vehicles to high-temperature SOFCs for power plants, these devices offer diverse solutions for clean energy generation.

Understanding the advantages and limitations of different fuel cell types is crucial for their effective implementation. While some excel in portability and quick start-up, others shine in efficiency and fuel flexibility, catering to various sectors from transportation to stationary power generation.

Types of Fuel Cells

Types of fuel cells

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• Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell operates at low temperatures (60-80°C), delivers high power density, and offers fast start-up times, making it suitable for transportation (fuel cell vehicles) and portable devices (laptops, mobile phones)
  • Sensitive to fuel impurities and requires high purity hydrogen as fuel
• Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) functions at low temperatures (60-90°C), achieves high efficiency, but is sensitive to CO2 in both fuel and air
  • Commonly used in space missions (Apollo program) and military applications
• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) operates at medium temperatures (150-200°C), offers tolerance to fuel impurities, but has longer start-up times compared to PEM fuel cells
  • Primarily used for stationary power generation (hospitals, hotels, office buildings)
• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) operates at high temperatures (600-700°C), offers fuel flexibility by utilizing natural gas or biogas, and achieves high efficiency
  • Slower start-up and response times limit its applications to large-scale stationary power generation (power plants, industrial facilities)
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) functions at high temperatures (800-1000°C), offers fuel flexibility (natural gas, biogas), and achieves high efficiency
  • Slower start-up and response times restrict its use to large-scale stationary power generation and combined heat and power (CHP) applications (residential, commercial buildings)

Low vs high-temperature fuel cells

• Low-temperature fuel cells, such as PEM and AFC, operate below 100°C, offer fast start-up and response times, and deliver high power density
  • Sensitive to fuel impurities and require pure hydrogen as fuel
  • Utilize precious metal catalysts like platinum to facilitate reactions
• High-temperature fuel cells, such as MCFC and SOFC, operate above 600°C, offer fuel flexibility by using natural gas or biogas, and are tolerant to fuel impurities
  • Slower start-up and response times compared to low-temperature fuel cells
  • Enable internal fuel reforming, eliminating the need for external fuel processing
  • Utilize non-precious metal catalysts, reducing cost
  • Achieve higher overall efficiency by recovering waste heat for other applications (heating, steam generation)

Fuel Cell Applications and Considerations

Advantages and limitations of fuel cells

• PEM Fuel Cell
  • Advantages: high power density, fast start-up, low operating temperature, making it suitable for transportation and portable applications
  • Limitations: sensitive to fuel impurities, requires pure hydrogen, and relies on expensive catalysts (platinum)
• AFC
  • Advantages: high efficiency and low operating temperature
  • Limitations: sensitive to CO2, requiring pure hydrogen and oxygen, limiting its applications
• PAFC
  • Advantages: tolerant to fuel impurities and operates at medium temperatures
  • Limitations: lower efficiency compared to other fuel cell types and longer start-up times
• MCFC
  • Advantages: fuel flexibility, high efficiency, and potential for heat recovery
  • Limitations: high operating temperature, slower start-up and response times, and corrosive electrolyte, requiring corrosion-resistant materials
• SOFC
  • Advantages: fuel flexibility, high efficiency, heat recovery potential, and solid electrolyte, reducing corrosion issues
  • Limitations: high operating temperature, slower start-up and response times, and thermal stress issues due to temperature gradients

Applications of fuel cells

• Transportation sector primarily uses PEM fuel cells due to their fast start-up, high power density, and zero emissions
  • Challenges include developing hydrogen storage and distribution infrastructure and reducing overall cost
• Stationary power generation relies on MCFC and SOFC for their high efficiency, fuel flexibility, and heat recovery potential (CHP)
  • Applications include distributed power generation (microgrids), backup power systems, and grid support (load balancing)
• Portable devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, military equipment, and remote sensors, utilize PEM fuel cells for their high power density, fast start-up, and low operating temperature
  • Miniaturization and cost reduction are key challenges for widespread adoption in portable applications