MEEG442/642 Intro to Fuel Cells

Instructor

Syllabus

Chapter 1: Introduction

History; basic principles of electrolysis of water;
basic principles of hydrogen fuel cell operation;
elementary efficiency considerations; limitations on current;
bipolar plate connections; gas supply and cooling;
types of fuel cells; applications

Chapter 2: Efficiency and open circuit voltage

Energy and EMF of Hydrogen fuel cell; efficiency and efficiency limits;
fuel utilization coefficient; effect of pressure and gas concentration;
Nernst equation; Hydrogen partial pressure; fuel and oxidant utilization;
system pressure

Chapter 3: Operational fuel cell voltages

Fuel cell irreversibilities; activation losses and the Tafel equation;
fuel crossover and internal currents; ohmic losses;
mass transport or concentration losses; combining irreversibilities;
the charge double layer

Chapter 4: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Polymer electolyte, electrodes, and electrode structure;
membrane electrode assembly; water management in the PEMFC
including evaporation and humidification; PEMFC cooling;
PEMFC connections and the bipolar plate; operating pressure;
reactant composition; example systems

Chapter 5: Alkaline electrolyte fuel cells

Historical background and overview; types of alkaline electrolyte
fuel cells; operating pressure and temperature; electrodes for alkaline
electrolyte fuel cells; interconnections

Chapter 6: Direct methanol fuel cells

Anode reactions and catalysts; electrolyte and fuel crossover;
cathode reactions and catalysts; methanol production; DMFC applications

Chapter 7: Medium and high temperature fuel cells

Common features; Phosphoric acid fuel cell (POFC);
molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC); solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

Chapter 8: Fueling fuel cells

Fossil fuels and bio fuels; practical fuel processing for
stationary and mobile applications; electrolyzers and biological
production of hydrogen; hydrogen safety; hydrogen storage

Chapter 11: Analysis of fuel cells

Well to wheels analysis; well to tank analysis;
examples: PEMFC powered bus, stationary natural gas fueled system