Week 2 Challenge
Question 1:
| Type of fuel cell | advantage | disadvantage | uses |
| PEM (Proton exchange membrane / Polymer electrolyte membrane) |
Solid electrolyte low temperature operation quick start up |
expensive catalyst sensitive to impurities in the fuel |
mobile applications such as cars |
| SOFC (Solid oxide fuel cell) |
High efficiency fuel flexibility solid electrolyte suitable for power and heat |
hight temperature corrosion of the cells long start up time limit on shutdowns due to difficulties in attaining high temperatures |
Combined heat and power applications in industries and residential areas. |
| AFC (alkaline fuel cell) |
Wide ranfe of stable materials that can be used and are of a low cost Low operating temperature Quick start up |
Sensitive to CO2 Difficulty in electrolyte management Electrolyte conductivity varies and affects the performane of the cell |
Stationary power applicaions such as grid balancing |
| DMFC (Direct methanol fuel cell) |
Ease of fuel delivery cheap fuel Low temperature and pressure operation. |
CO2 emission is still there Sluggish kinetics of methanol oxidation hence slow dinamic response Methanol crossover reduces the cell voltage |
Stationary power applications |
Question 2:
