Electricity At It’s Best

Fuel Cells

WHAT IS A “FUEL CELL?”

Generates electricity by a

chemical reaction

Produces heat, water, and at times

nitrogen oxide

Hydrogen and Oxygen

Individual cells have electrolytes

Two electrodes; anodes and

cathodes

FUEL CELLS AND THEIR WORKSStep 1: Hydrogen and Oxygen• Hydrogen is fed into an anode catalyst opposite Oxygen is fed into a cathode catalyst

for the currents to move• Hydrogen splits creating a proton and an electron

Step 2: Proton and Electron Paths• Proton passes through the electrolyte• Electrons flow in a separate current; it is being saved for a later usage in the cathode to mix with

oxygen and hydrogen potentially forming water

Step 3: Part of a Fuel Cell System: Fuel Reformer • Reforms hydrogen from any hydrocarbon fuel changing it from natural gas to methanol• Little Pollution is collect throughout which is a great benefit

This is when the Hydrogen atom is fed in; this is

the fuel

Here is when the Oxygen is put in for the currents to circulate

H+ atom breaks into

+ and -

Oxygen and Hydrogen finally are formed into

H20

APPLICATIONS

Fuel Cell Uses

Stationary

Transportation

Micro Power

Portable Power

Types of Fuel Cells How it works

Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Uses liquid phosphoric acid as an electrolyte;

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell candidate for such smaller applications (rechargeable batteries)

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell suitable for stationary applications as well as auxiliary power units

Alkaline Fuel Cell Operates on compressed hydrogen and oxygen

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Anode Catalyst itself draws the hydrogen from liquid methanol eliminating the use for the fuel reformer

Regenerative Fuel Cell Closed loop form of power generation; once the hydrogen is fed in and separated from protons and electrons, the water is recirculated into the electrolyzer and reused again.

Zinc Air Fuel Cell Close looped system creates zinc and oxygen; goes through a process that converts hydroxyl ions and water so that it reaches the zinc anode; regenerates fuel silently and automatically; no hassle

Proton Ceramic Fuel Cell Also has a closed loop system; satisfactory because the process that it goes through, or the recirculating of energy, takes around 5 minutes which provides no problem; good because eliminates costly procedure of producing hydrogen

Microbial Fuel Cell Converts organic materials into fuel using the catalytic reaction of microorganisms;

BENEFITS

Fin

Creators:

Anahita SepehrifarAngie GeorgarasViridiana Becerra

Krista Grund Wickramasekera