Polymer Electrolyte Membrane PEM Fuel Cell

1
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell
Courtesy of the US Department of Energy

• Presented By Sammy Khayat

2
Gentle Introduction to Fuel Cells

• Since the invention of the fuel cell in 1839 and
  their usage in the Apollo Spacecraft Program in
  1958
• Since the 1973 Oil Crisis the hunt for
  alternative fuels increased
• What is a Fuel Cell?
• A fuel cell is like a battery except they use the
  chemical energy of hydrogen to produce
  electricity and their only by-product is water,
  which makes them environmentally friendly. Fuel
  cells impact many applications ranging from cell
  phones to factories but automobiles are the major
  focus because reported by the Energy Information
  Administration twenty percent of carbon dioxide
  emissions come from automobiles.
• One of a few methods to decrease carbon dioxide
  emissions is by commercializing one major type of
  fuel cell called the proton exchange membrane
  (PEM)

3
Functions of a (PEM) Fuel Cell

• The following video was provided by Ballard Power
  Systems
• Introduced the first production ready PEM fuel
  cell in 2000.
• To make fuel cells a commercial reality.

Courtesy of the US Department of
Energy (www.fueleconomy.gov)
http//www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_techn
ology/how_the_technology_works
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Technological Aspects

• PEM fuel cells are 40-60 efficient
• Heat generated by the fuel cell stack
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning decrease electrical
  efficiency
• Internal combustion engine is only 20 efficient
• Exhaust Heat
• Water Heating
• Motor Friction

5
Technological Aspects

• Net Energy
• Useful Energy Output / Required Energy Input
• Net Energy takes in account extraction, storage,
  transportation, and refining.
• The energy yield of gasoline is 121 (.805/.66)
  greater than the comparable yield of hydrogen.

Note The net energy is based on the production
of hydrogen via a Steam Methane Reformation (SMR)
plant.
6
Production Cost (kW) of a Fuel Cell vs. the
Internal Combustion Engine (kW)
Courtesy of the US Department of Energy
7
Technological Aspects (Cont.)

• Market price of Platinum 1,318 per ounce (2004)
• 1 gram .03527 ounces
• .8 grams .03527 .03 ounces
• .03 ounces 1,318 39.50
• 39.50 50 kW 1,975
• 185.50 50 kW 9,275
• Total Cost 11,250
• Total High Volume Production Cost 5.625
  billion

• Market price of Platinum 1,318 per ounce2
  (1992)
• 1 gram .03527 ounces
• 20 grams .03527 .71 ounces
• .71 ounces 1,318 935
• 935 50 kW 46,750
• 2,065 50 kW 103,250
• Total Cost 150,000
• Total High Volume Production Cost 75 billion

2 Based on April 23, 2007 market price of
platinum (USD/oz)
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Barriers

• Hydrogen Storage
• The on-board storage of hydrogen is a major
  barrier because while hydrogen supplies three
  times the energy per pound of gasoline it has
  only one tenth the density when stored in liquid
  form. Therefore, hydrogen fuel tanks are very
  large in order to provide the same average travel
  distance in comparison to an internal combustion
  engine.
• i.e. 15 gallon gas tank could equate to a 60
  gallon tank of liquefied hydrogen3
• Cost Competitive
• Market Penetration

Courtesy of the Department of Energy
3 Liquefied hydrogen density .07 grams per
cubic centimeter
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Social Aspects

• Energy Security
• Lower Maintenance costs
• PEM fuel cells operate at low temperatures 80C
  (176F)
• Consumer Acceptance
• i.e. Hybrids
• Consumer Knowledge
• Creation of Jobs (skilled Labor)

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Environmental Aspects

• Decrease CO2 emissions
• Decrease the rate at which Global Climate Change
  is occurring
• Improvements in air quality
• Nearly 60 of all Americans live in areas where
  levels of one or more pollutants are high enough
  to impact public health US Department of
  Interior
• i.e. CO2 linked to respiratory diseases?

11
Bibliography

• Energy Balance/Life Cycle Inventory for Ethanol,
  Biodiesel and Petroleum Fuels. Posted July
  2002. Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
  http//www.mda.state.mn.us/ethanol/balance.html
• Hydrogen Fact Sheet. History of Hydrogen. Last
  revised November 07, 2006. http//www.getenergysm
  art.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/3HistoryofHydrogen
  .pdf
• Emissions of Greenhouse Gaseous in the United
  States 2005. Posted November 2006. US Department
  of Energy Energy Information Administration.
  www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/pdf/chapter5.pdf
• National Research Council. Hydrogen Economy
  Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and RD needs.
  Washington DC The National Academies Press,
  2004.
• Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Production via
  Natural Gas Steam Reformation. Revised Feb. 07,
  2001. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
  http//www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/27637.pdf
• Barriers. Posted October 2004. Think Quest
  USA. http//library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01936/h_
  barriers.htm
• Yates, Zach. The Efficiency of the Internal
  Combustion Engine. Posted 2002. University of
  Alaska-Fairbanks. http//ffden2.phys.uaf.edu/102sp
  ring2002_Web_projects/Z.Yates/Zach's20Web20Proje
  ct20Folder/EICE20-20Main.htm
• When Breathing is a Health Risk.