Fuel Cells: The Energy Technology of the

Future

Charlie Lee

October 26, 2005

Presentation Highlights

Overview of fuel cell technologies Major federal and state activities Overview of solar energy Overview of wind energy Recommendations for Taiwan

Fuel Cell Video Clips

• Bush talk

• Fuel Cell Technologies

International Energy Outlook 1999

What Is a Fuel Cell? A fuel cell is an electrochemical

device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy without combustion. Its byproducts are pure water, CO2, and heat• The basic physical structure of a fuel

cell consists of an electrolyte layer in contact with a porous anode and cathode on either side.

• The basic process is (1) gaseous fuels are fed continuously to the anode (negative electrode) and (2) an oxidant (i.e., oxygen from air) is fed continuously to the cathode (positive electrode); electrochemical reactions take place at the electrodes to produce an electric current.

Fuel Cells: the Energy Technology of the

Future

Fuel Cell Prospective

• Has higher energy efficiency, thus reducing petroleum dependence

• Has lower multi-media emissions, thus reducing the risk on human health and the environment

• Avoids major investment in transmission and distribution systems

• Establishes a new industry worth billions of dollars in sales and hundreds of thousands of jobs

• Is a green technology which is both environmentally and economically sustainable

How do FCs Compare to IC engine?

Fuel cell (FC): A device that converts fuel chemical energy to electricity by an electrochemical process

Internal combustion (IC) engine: A device that converts fuel chemical energy to thermal energy to generate mechanical work or electricity by a combustion process

Efficiency: FC ranges 50-??% and IC engine 30-35% which is limited by the Carnot cycle

Estimated Efficiencies of Engine Cycles Using

Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels

Fuel Cell Technologies

Low temperature FC (<200 C)1. Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)

2. Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)

3. Phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC)

4. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

Fuel Cell Technologies

High temperature FC (>500 C)5. Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)

with external reformer

6. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with external reformer

7. Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) with internal reformer

8. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with internal reformer

Hybrid fuel cell (HFC): Micro-turbine with any of the 4 high-temperature FC

12 Major Fuel Types

1. Gasoline2. Propane3. Natural gas4. Methanol (liquid, derived from

natural gas)5. Ethanol (liquid, derived from corn

products)

Major Fuel Types(Continued)

6. Biogas (derived from agricultural products or energy crops)

7. Anaerobic digestion gas8. Landfill gas9. Diesel fuel10. Coal fuel11. Electrolysis by solar energy12. Electrolysis by wind energy

Pressure Differences

Ambient pressure FC (1 atm)• 12 (fuel types) x 12 (fuel cell types) =

144 combinations

High pressure FC (10 atm)• 12 (fuel types) x 12 (fuel cell types) =

144 combinations

Subtotal potential FC combinations = 288 combinations

If cogeneration is included, the potential total combinations = 576 combinations

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

E le c t r o c h e m ic a l T e c h n o lo g ie s G r o u p

A i rF u e l

VV

H

H H

H

C O

H HO

O O O

D i r e c t M e t h a n o l F u e l C e l l s

D M F C A d v a n t a g e s

• S a f e t y o f h a n d l i n g a l i q u i d f u e l v e r s u s c o m p r e s s e d g a s f u e l t a n k ( i . e . H y d r o g e n )

• L o w m e t h a n o l c o n c e n t r a t i o n ( < 3 % ) i n t h e “ w o r k i n g ” f u e l l o o p

D i r e c t M e t h a n o l F u e l C e l l R e a c t i o n :

A n o d e : C H 3 O H + H 2 O 6 H + + 6 e - + C O 2

C a t h o d e : 3 / 2 O 2 + 6 H + + 6 e - 3 H 2 O

C e l l : C H 3 O H + 3 / 2 O 2 C O 2 + 2 H 2 O

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)

Fuel: Liquid methanol Electrolyte: A solid polymer membrane

(a thin plastic film) Operating Temperature: 50 - 120 C Anode reaction: CH3OH + H2O CO2

+ 6H+ + 6e- Cathode reaction: 6H+ + 3/2O2 + 6e-

3H2O

Overall reaction: CH3OH + H2O + 3/2O2 CO2 + 3H2O

DMFC Development Status

In the United States• Fuel Cell Energy Inc. was awarded a contract

to build one-MW power plant, which consists of four 250-kilowatt Direct Methanol Fuel Cell units (FC Today2005/08/02).

• UltraCell Corporation has developed a new portable reformed methanol fuel cell that has twice the energy density of lithium batteries (2005/08/26).

In Europe• SFC, a German fuel cell supplier, recently

announced the introduction of a European methanol fuel distribution network that will begin this month making the company's methanol fuel cartridges available at more than 200 sales points across the continent (2005/08/18).

Proton Exchange (Polymer Electrolyte) Membrane FC

(PEMFC) Fuel: Hydrocarbons. The cells are not

sulfur- or CO- tolerant. Electrolyte: A proton-conducting

membrane (a solid thin plastic film) Operating temperature: Less than 200

C Anode reaction: H2 2H+ + 2e-

Cathode reaction: ½O2 + 2H+ + 2e-

H2O

Overall reaction: H2 + ½O2 H2O

PEMFC Development Status

Automakers with the California Fuel Cell Partnership advance the PEMFC technology almost daily

Best candidate for automotive power applications • Compared to other types of fuel cells,

PEMFCs generate more power for a given volume or weight of fuel cell.

• The operating temperature is less than 200 C, which allows rapid start-up.

PEMFC Application

PEMFC Application

DOE Project Objectives• Develop 120-ton, 1 MW Army fuel cell

locomotive • Total Cost: Estimated US$12 million

for 5 years, beginning 2003

PEMFC Application

DOE Project Objectives• Develop a fuel cell-powered mine

loader.• Total Cost: Estimated US$7.6 million

for 3 years, beginning 2002

Solid Oxide FC

Solid Oxide FC

Fuel: Hydrocarbons Electrolyte: A thin, solid ceramic

material (solid oxide) that is conductive to oxygen ions (O2-). Its advantage: There is no liquid electrolyte, thus avoiding its associated corrosion and electrolyte management problems.

Operating temperature: 600 - 1000 C Anode reactions: H2 + O2- H2O +

2e-; CO + O2- CO2 + 2e-

Cathode reaction: O2 + 4e- 2O2-

Overall reaction: O2 + H2 + CO H2O + CO2

Solid Oxide Planer (Flat) FC

Solid Oxide Tubular FC

AnodeAir Flow

Fuel Flow

Interconnect(cathode)

Cathode

Electrolyte

Fuel Cell/Turbine Hybrid System

SOFC Development Status

For tubular cells: Westinghouse has been developing this technology since the late 1950s. This tubular SOFC is being demonstrated at user sites in a complete, operating fuel cell power unit of nominal 25 kW (40 kW max) capacity.

For flat plate cells: Companies pursuing these concepts in the U.S. are Allied Signal Aerospace Company, Ceramatec, Inc., Technology Management, Inc., and Ztek, Inc. There are a number of companies also in Japan, in Europe, and one in Australia developing these fuel cells.

100 kw SOFC Cogeneration System

Fuel Cells for the Future

Major U.S. Federal and State FC Activities

U.S. Department of Energy• Fuel cell technology development• Hydrogen production

U.S. Department of Defense• Fuel cell for military application

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency• Environmental fuel cell life cycle

analysis

State of California

US EPA Fuel Cell Environmental Life Cycle

Analysis (LCA)

• Determine how Clean fuel cells are, compared to other power systems

• Determine how Safe fuel cells are (less health and environmental risk)

• Conclusion: This study is to help environmental agents (e.g., EPA and State permit writers) determine how fuel cell applications should be regulated from the viewpoint of CAA, CWA, RCRA and PPA.

Fuel Cell LCA Study Objective and Outputs

Percent Change in Life Cycle Air Emissions

-100%

-80%

-60%

-40%

-20%

0%CO2 CO CH4 NMHCs NOx SO2 PM

Significant Life Cycle Air Emissions

Per

cen

t C

han

ge

Co

mp

ared

to

U.S

. Ele

ctri

c G

rid

SOFC (Current)

SOFC (Future)

Boundary Conditions

Set the US electricity grid air emissions to 0% (baseline) for each air emission type in the figure.

For the purposes of this study, the boundaries of the life cycle are a 1 kW SOFC operating for 40,000 hours at 100% load

Major California Fuel Cells Organizations

California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP)

California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative

California Hydrogen Highway Initiative

California Sunline Transit Agency

California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP)

Mission: • Promoting fuel cell vehicle

commercialization as a means of moving towards a sustainable energy future

• Increasing energy efficiency• Reducing or eliminating air pollution

and greenhouse gas emissions.

CaFCP Government Members

Federal Government• Department of Energy• Department of Defense• Department of Transportation• Environmental Protection Agency

State Government• State of California

CaFCP Industrial Members and Their FC

Vehicles

1. Chrysler: F-Cell

2. Ford: Focus

3. GM: Hydrogen

4. Honda: FCX

5. Hyundai: Santa Fe FCEV

6. Nissan: Xterra

7. Toyota: FCHV

CaFCP Video Clips

California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative

(CaSFCC)

One of the goals of the Collaborative is to implement an inter-organizational policy to utilize fuel cells in government facilities such as the Cal/EPA Headquarters building shown in the next photo.

Members represent a group of key organizations interested in combining efforts and resources towards commercialization of stationary fuel cells in California. These organizations formed a Core Group, which is developing a program of activities towards its mission.

California EPA Building to be Powered by Fuel

Cells

California Hydrogen Highway Initiative

"I am going to encourage the building of a hydrogen highway to take us to the environmental future... I intend to show the world that economic growth and the environment can coexist. And if you want to see it, then come to California...“ by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, State of the State Address, January 6, 2004.

Commercial photovoltaic Module

Photovoltaic (PV) Cell Application for Highway

Signs

Photovoltaic Energy for Highway Signs

Photovoltaic Energy for Highway Signs

Parabolic Trough Concentrators

Solar Energy - Thermal Energy Collectors

Concentrated Solar Energy for Electricity

Production

Wind Energy

Wind Energy in California

Recommendations for Taiwan

Priority of fuel cell development1. Fuel reformation for hydrogen

production

2. Methanol FCs for computer application

3. Proton exchange membrane FCs for motor cycles, scooters, and other portable devices

4. Solid oxide FCs for household uses

Renewable energy1. Photovoltaic cells for hydrogen

production

2. Biogas from seaweed, from waste or from wastewater treatment

End

Have a Nice Day