New Perspectives on Fuel Cell Technology: A Brief Review

Abstract

Energy storage and conversion is a very important link between the steps of energy production and energy consumption. Traditional fossil fuels are a natural and unsustainable energy storage medium with limited reserves and notorious pollution problems, therefore demanding a better choice to store and utilize the green and renewable energies in the future. Energy and environmental problems require a clean and efficient way of using the fuels. Fuel cell functions to efficiently convert oxidant and chemical energy accumulated in the fuel directly into DC electric, with the by-products of heat and water. Fuel cells, which are known as effective electrochemical converters, and electricity generation technology has gained attention due to the need for clean energy, the limitation of fossil fuel resources and the capability of a fuel cell to generate electricity without involving any moving mechanical part. The fuel cell technologies that received high interest for commercialization are polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The optimum efficiency for the fuel cell is not bound by the principle of Carnot cycle compared to other traditional power machines that are generally based on thermal cycles such as gas turbines, steam turbines and internal combustion engines. However, the fuel cell applications have been restrained by the high cost needed to commercialize them. Researchers currently focus on the discovery of different materials and manufacturing methods to enhance fuel cell performance and simplify components of fuel cells. Fuel cell systems’ designs are utilized to reduce the costs of the membrane and improve cell efficiency, durability and reliability, allowing them to compete with the traditional combustion engine. In this review, we primarily analyze recent developments in fuel cells technologies and up-to-date modeling for PEMFCs, SOFCs and DMFCs.

Performance Analysis of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer Using OpenFOAM®: Two-Phase Flow Regime, Electrochemical Model

“…However, no fluid flows into the cathode, and hydrogen flows out of it. The standard voltage of the reaction is 1.23 V, and this reaction is given by Equation (1) [ 19 ]: …”

Biohydrogen from Microalgae: Production and Applications

“…It is indeed capable to transform the chemical energy of a fuel into electricity [69]. A fuel cell may vary for it architecture, for the kind of fuel or for its catalyst; but it always consists of a few simple main parts ( Figure 3): electrodes (an anode and a cathode), electrolytes, and an external circuit [70].…”

“…It is indeed capable to transform the chemical energy of a fuel into electricity [69]. A fuel cell may vary for it architecture, for the kind of fuel or for its catalyst; but it always consists of a few simple main parts (Figure 3): electrodes (an anode and a cathode), electrolytes, and an external circuit [70]. The reactions that happen in a fuel cell are simple: the fuel (usually hydrogen) at the anode is oxidized; then the electrons, through the circuit, reach the cathode, where (usually) oxygen is reduced to water [71].…”

“…It was first commercialized by the DuPont company in the 1960s and it soon received wide acceptance because of its qualities. Nafion ® is a robust polymer with high chemical and mechanical resistance, good conductivity, and little water or fuel crossover [70,77]. However, it is a costly material, covering about 20% of the cost of a fuel cell [77], and it is also thermolabile since it works only at a low temperature (50-80 • C) [78].…”

Thin Niobium and Niobium Nitride PVD Coatings on AISI 304 Stainless Steel as Bipolar Plates for PEMFCs

“…Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted considerable attention for their stationary, automotive, and portable applications [2]. PEMFCs offer the advantages of high efficiency, low operating temperature, eco-friendly behavior, and easy start-up [3]. However, the high manufacturing cost and relatively high weight of PEMFCs have limited the potential use of this kind of energy systems in different applications [4,5].…”