Week 2 Challenge

Compare four different types of fuel cells and state their applications.

Types of Fuel Cells

1. Polymer Electrolyte Membrance Fuel Cell (PEM)
2. Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC)
3. Direct Methonol Fule Cell (DMFC)
4. Solid Oxide Fuel cell (SOFC)

	Polymer Electrolyte Membrance Fuel Cell (PEM)	Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC)	Direct Methonol Fule Cell (DMFC)	Solid Oxide Fuel cell (SOFC)
Power (KW)	0.01 - 250	0.1 - 50	0.001 - 100	0.5 - 2000
Efficiency	40% - 55%	55% - 70%	40%	40% - 72%
Operating Temperature (°C)	60 -110	70 -130	70 -130	500 - 1000
Type of Electrolyte	proton-conducting polymer membrane	aqueous Potassium Hydroxide	Nafion	Ceramic electrolyte
Fuel	Hydrogen	Hydrogen	Methonol	Hydrogen
Byproducts	Water and heat	water	water and CO2	water
Reactions	At anode: At cathode: Overall reaction :	At anode: At cathode: Overall reaction:	At anode: At cathode: Overall reaction:	At anode: At cathod: Overall reaction:

Applications:

Polymer Electrolyte Membrance Fuel Cell (PEM)

• Portable
• Mobile
• Low power generation

Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC)

• Mobile
• Space
• Military

Direct Methonol Fule Cell (DMFC)

• Mobile
• Portable

Solid Oxide Fuel cell (SOFC)

• Vehicle Auxilary power supply unit
• Medium to large scale power generation and CHP
• Off-grid power and micro-CHP

Question 2:

Using a plot with energy density and power density on the X and Y axis, arrange various battery types like lithium ion, lead acid, Nickel Cadmium, Ultracapacitor, fuel cell.

Below Graph is the basic Energy density and Power density of differnt types of energy storage devices like Capacitors,Batteries (Li-ion, Led acid, Nickel cadmium etc) and Fuel cells.

In Energy density

Super capacitors < Batteries < Fuel cells

Super capacitors are having the Lowest Energy dencity and Fuel cell having the Highest Energy density and Batteries are in between the Super capaciters and Fuel cells

In Power dencity

Super capaciters > Batteries > Fuel cells

Super capacitors are having the Highest Power dencity and Fuel cell having the Lowest Power density and Batteries are in between the Super capaciters and Fuel cells

Comparing only Batteries:

Energy Density

Lead-acid < Nickel Cadmium < Lithium ion

Lead- acid has the lowest energy density and Lithum ions has the Highest Energy dencity and the Nickel Cadmium is in between the Lead acid and Lithium ion

Power Density

Lead-acid < Nickel Cadmium < Lithium ion

Lead- acid has the Lowest Power density and Lithum ions has the Highest Power dencity and the Nickel Cadmium is in between the Lead acid and Lithium ion

By combining the Both the graphs we can conclude that

In Energy dencity :

Super capacitors < Lead-acid < Nickel Cadmium < Lithium ion < Fuel cells

In power density:

Fuel cells < Lead-acid < Nickel Cadmium < Lithium ion < Super capaciters