Introduction to Fuel Cell Systems

1
Introduction to Fuel Cell Systems
2
Overview

• Introduction
• Current Environmental Situation
• Why Fuel Cells?
• Fuel Cell Fundamentals
• System Applications
• Challenges

3
Energy Information Administration/Annual Review
2000
4
Energy Information Administration/Annual Review
2000 1 MBPD 2 Quad BTUs
5
EPA 420-R-04-001
6
Thus, avoiding the SUV trend and simply keeping
the mix of cars and light trucks at the level it
was in 1989 would have saved 75 times more energy
per year than what has been saved by recycling
plastic and four times more energy than what has
been saved each year by recycling aluminum.
Environmental Science Policy 6 (2003)
175179 Friedland et al.
EPA 420-R-04-001
7

• CO2 varied between 200 and 300 ppm (last 160,000
  year)
• CO2 has increased from 280 ppm to 360 ppm in a
  single century
• Predicted to rise to 600 ppm by 2100

Green Power, Los Alamos National Lab,
LA-UR-99-3231
8

• Vehicle traffic causes half of all urban smog
  and 90 of the carbon monoxide emissions in the
  US.
• Automotive related air pollution kills twice the
  number of Americans that die in auto accidents,
  and triple the number of homicide victims.
• In 2001, you were 24 times more likely to die
  from air pollution than from a terrorist attack.

General Motors Corporation
9
The Debate Energy Use

• Transportation Costs?
• Foreign Oil Dependency?
• Environment (i.e. Global Warming)?
• Is Our Current Lifestyle Sustainable?
• (5 world population emitting 20 of the
  greenhouse gases)

10
Why Fuel Cells?

• Clean (CO2 and emissions), Flexible, Distributed
  Energy Carrier
• Electricity!
• Generate with Nuclear, PV, Wind!
• Storage Problem in Mobile Applications

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
Why Fuel Cells?

• Conventional Power Generation
• Fuel ? Heat ? Mechanical ? Electricity
• 20 - 30 Fuel ? Electricity
• Fuel Cell Electrochemical Device
• Fuel (hydrogen) ? Electricity, 50
• Steady Flow Battery
• Fossil Fuel Dependant ? CO2
• Hydrocarbon Reforming for Hydrogen
• Electrolysis? (only if you have clean e-)

14
Why Fuel Cells?

• Fuel cell easily converts H2 to e-
• Fuel cells, through H2 energy carrier, get around
  the on-board e- storage issue.
• Double onboard e- storage ? fuel cells may not
  make sense (Toshiba Advanced Li-Ion Battery)

15
Overview

• Introduction
• Current Environmental Situation
• Why Fuel Cells?
• Fuel Cell Fundamentals
• System Applications
• Challenges

16
Fuel Cells Fundamentals

• Electrochemical Device
• Steady Flow Battery
• Electrochemical Engine
• Generate DC power
• of cells (voltage) and active area (current)

17
Fuel Cells Types
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
Ballard Corporation
21
California Fuel Cell Partnership
22
(No Transcript)
23

• Teflon Backbone (Hydrophobic)
• Side Chain (Hydrophilic)
• Sulfonic Group (weak, dilute acid)
• Solid Polymer Electrolyte

24
Fundamentals
Videal 1.48 V per cell at STP
25
Introduction
26
Overview

• Introduction
• Current Environmental Situation
• Why Fuel Cells?
• Fuel Cell Fundamentals
• System Applications
• Challenges

27
Green Power, Los Alamos National Lab,
LA-UR-99-3231
28

• FCV
• Entire Drive System Contained in Skateboard
• Interchangeable, Bolt on Body

• Single Center Electrical Connection
• Drive By Wire (Steering, Accelerator, Braking,
  etc.)

29
Honda Motor Company
30
(No Transcript)
31
Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
32
Overview

• Introduction
• Current Environmental Situation
• Why Fuel Cells?
• Fuel Cell Fundamentals
• System Applications
• Challenges

33
Challenges

• Durability (up to 5,000 hrs and 40,000 hrs?)
• Clean H2 Production
• Cost per kW (not just Pt)
• Size
• Weight
• End of Cycle Impact?
• Better than Hybrid Technology?
• Better than Battery Technology?

34

• A.D. Little study projects high volume
  production cost of 14,700 or 294/kW (60 Stack,
  29 Processor, 11 BOP, Assembly, and Indirect)
  for fuel cell system
• Platinum cost alone is 63/kW (21 of total )
• ICE engine cost? 20/kW
• Fuel Cell Vehicle cell, auxiliary equipment, H2
  storage, power inverters, and electric motors

35
Honda Motor Company
36
Challenges

• Cold Start
• Hydrogen Storage
• High Pressure Composite Tanks
• Cryogenic Storage
• On-board Hydrocarbon Reforming?
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

37

• 1 Liter displacement
• 2.0 kW/kg (145lbs?180hp)
• lt 20/kW

38
(No Transcript)
39

• No matter the efficiency, consumption is the
  bigger problem
• Is vehicle transportation sustainable?

40
Gasoline Equivalent MPG (1 gal 5.76 MJ of
energy)

• Helicopter 4 20
• US Auto Avg 21 84
• Prius 60 230
• Aircraft 67 85
• FCV (projection) 67 270
• Walking 235 235
• Commuter Train 244 520
• GM EV1 260 400
• TGV Train 500 630
• Bike 653 653

41

• Questions