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Teknikmobil.com – Below we will discuss the types of fuel cells based on their temperature levels. In addition, liquid fuel will also be discussed, namely direct methanol fuel cells .
Mercedes-Benz F-Cell
Low and Medium Temperature C ell Fuel Types
All types of fuel cells now available can be characterized using electrolytes and several others. All fuel cell functions fall under the same basic overview. At the anode, the fuel (usually hydrogen) is oxidized into electrons and protons, while at the cathode, oxygen is reduced to a certain oxidation state. Depending on the type of electrolyte, the cathode and anode will undergo oxidation and reduction which will produce an electric current.
The latest developments in fuel cell types (Fuel cell technology, CRC Press)
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In the table above, there are fuel cells that have just been actively developed, namely Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs). Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs) operate at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius, using liquid material as the electrolyte. PAFCs have been developed for the large-scale electric power generation market. The prototype that has been developed is capable of producing 200 kW of power and has been operated for more than thousands of operating hours. However, when compared with two other low temperature fuel cells, namely alkaline and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (AFCs, PEMFCs), PAFCs are only able to reach moderate current density levels.
One that is popular and currently developing is the PAFC fuel cell type
Alkaline AFC fuels have a long history compared to all other types of fuel cells. Alkaline was first developed by FT Bacon in the 1930s. Bacon was the first person to develop a fairly practical fuel cell system. This technology has been developed to support the Apollo spacecraft program. In fact, the development of this fuel technology is the main key to bringing humans to the moon.
AFCs suffer from one major problem in the use of strong alkaline electrolytes. This problem is continuous absorption which will result in a reduction in electrolyte productivity capabilities. This problem results in a reduction in the conductivity ability of the electrolyte. This problem means that AFCs cannot be used as an effective and efficient form of fuel cell.
Several commercial measures have been developed to overcome this. Most records show that in the 1900s, ZETEK/ZEVCO retested the AFCs technology that had been developed by ELENCO, a fuel cell developer from Belgium that had long gone bankrupt. A number of activities carried out by ZETEK have succeeded in attracting the attention of many people. At the end of the 1990s, ZETEK showed the results of their hard work called the fuel cell powered London taxi.
One type of fuel cell considers temperature issues
This technology can be said to be a little mysterious. This is because very little is known about this engine technology in vehicles. Even though ZETEK can be said to have succeeded in developing a fuel cell system that is more advanced than AFCs, it turns out that AFCs only have a maximum output power of 5 kW. This power can be said to be quite small for the size of the vehicle, so it can be concluded that AFCs cannot be the main power source and still have to use an external battery.
Other activities based on the development of AFCs technology are truck construction carried out by ZEVCO and ship construction developed by GmbH. One thing that is the main advantage of AFCs is that this type of fuel is produced at a fairly cheap cost. The development of AFCs technology, which is quite cheap, provides access to developers of secondary vehicles that do not require high power. Several types of vehicles that can be developed and optimized include vehicles carrying goods at airports and allowing for a number of other portable locations.
Proton exchange membrane cell fuel or what is called PEMFC is taken from the name of its electrolyte fluid membrane. When operating under pressure, the operating temperature is only limited to a temperature range below 100 degrees Celsius. To achieve good performance, effective electro-catalyst technology is very necessary. The catalysts will form a thin gas-porous electrode layer on the other side of the membrane. The number of ions in contact with the membrane will be increased by the electrode layer. This enhancement uses a form of liquid to ionize the membrane.
The MEA is typically placed between a pair of current collector plates. This system is combined with a field diverter machine. The field diverter system is useful for distributing fuel and oxygen to the anode and cathode. A water jacket for cooling can be inserted at the rear of each field flow reactant, followed by a metallic current collector plate. Cells can also make passages for reactant gases that help keep the electrolyte membrane in a hydrate in a proton-conducting state.
High Temperature Fuel Cell Type
Solid oxide and molten carbonate (SOFC and MCFC) are two types of fuel cells with high temperatures. Both have become the main considerations for large-scale power generation systems (on the MW scale). In this system, the fuel and electrolyte consist of anionic conductors.
These two fuel cells have two main advantages when compared to the low temperature type. The first advantage is that they can achieve high electrical efficiency; these prototypes have reached above 45 percent with over 60 percent targeted. This allows for efficiency at power generating stations.
The second advantage is that this type of fuel cell operates at high temperatures. High temperatures will allow direct internal processes to occur in fuels such as most natural gases in general. This direct process will reduce the complex systems that exist in low temperature power generation systems. Even with this direct process, there is no need to generate hydrogen first. However, in reality, for this type of fuel cell, high temperatures cannot be easily observed at the generating station scale sector.
Liquid Fuel; Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Type
One of the most elegant solutions to overcome the fuel problem is to make the fuel cell operate on a liquid fuel. This will specifically apply to the transport and portable sectors. Direct methanol fuel cell (direct methanol fuel cell) or commonly abbreviated as DMFC is a type of fuel cell in liquid form.
DMFC consists of liquid or vapor PEM fuel cells that operate on a mixture of methanol/water and air. Therefore, this type of fuel deserves to be considered carefully to overcome fuel problems in the future.
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The main challenge in addressing fuel systems is to formulate better anode catalysts towards lower anode potentials. Another challenge is improving the anode membrane and catalyst. Solving membrane and anode catalyst problems to solve cathode problems and fuel loss by methanol migration from anode to cathode. The latest prototype DMFC type is capable of generating up to 0.2 Wcm^2 of electrical power. Even so, the operation is not practical enough to be able to compete with the platinum operation which is currently widely and widely used. However, the quite good efficiency value of this type of fuel cell can compete with conventional fuel cell systems.[]