scholarly journals Progress and Challenges in the Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Technology

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 109-129
Author(s):  
Jun Jie Chen ◽  
Xu Hui Gao ◽  
Long Fei Yan ◽  
De Guang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Solid Carbon ◽  
Fuel Utilization ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are under development for a range of applications for transport, stationary and portable power appliances. Fuel cell technology has advanced to the stage where commercial field trials for both transport and stationary applications are in progress. Direct Carbon Fuel Cells (DCFC) utilize solid carbon as the fuel and have historically attracted less investment than other types of gas or liquid fed fuel cells. However, volatility in gas and oil commodity prices and the increasing concern about the environmental impact of burning heavy fossil fuels for power generation has led to DCFCs gaining more attention within the global study community. A DCFC converts the chemical energy in solid carbon directly into electricity through its direct electrochemical oxidation. The fuel utilization can be almost 100% as the fuel feed and product gases are distinct phases and thus can be easily separated. This is not the case with other fuel cell types for which the fuel utilization within the cell is typically limited to below 85%. The theoretical efficiency is also high, around 100%. The combination of these two factors, lead to the projected electric efficiency of DCFC approaching 80% - approximately twice the efficiency of current generation coal fired power plants, thus leading to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of CO2 for storage/sequestration is also halved. Moreover, the exit gas is an almost pure CO2 stream, requiring little or no gas separation before compression for sequestration. Therefore, the energy and cost penalties to capture the CO2 will also be significantly less than for other technologies. Furthermore, a variety of abundant fuels such as coal, coke, tar, biomass and organic waste can be used. Despite these advantages, the technology is at an early stage of development requiring solutions to many complex challenges related to materials degradation, fuel delivery, reaction kinetics, stack fabrication and system design, before it can be considered for commercialization. This paper, following a brief introduction to other fuel cells, reviews in detail the current status of the direct carbon fuel cell technology, recent progress, technical challenges and discusses the future of the technology.

Fuel Cells: What’s Up Next?

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kas Hemmes
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Chemical Process ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Exothermic Reaction ◽  
Process Industry ◽  
Chemical Process Industry ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are defined as devices that convert chemical energy into heat and electric power. However, depending on their type, fuel cells have special features that can be used advantageously in for instance the chemical process industry of which examples will be given. Nevertheless these new applications use existing fuel cells like the MCFC. This is very exiting and many new possibilities are yet to be explored. However there is no principle reason why we should limit fuel cell technology to present types and the well known fuels like hydrogen, methane and methanol and air as oxidant. Recently interest in the direct conversion of carbon as a fuel has revived which has led to the development of a DCFC (direct carbon fuel cell) based on MCFC technology. Lawrence Livermore National Lab has demonstrated the DCFC successfully on a bench scale size. Also H2S is considered as a fuel. Further ahead opportunities are to be explored by replacing exothermic reaction in the chemical process industry such as partial oxidation reactions by their electrochemical counterpart. Thereby electricity is generated instead of excessive waste heat. Now that fuel cell technology is getting mature we can think of adopting this technology in new dedicated fuel cell types, with relatively short development trajectories, for application in totally new fields where electricity may just be a by-product.

Challenges Facing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology to Replace Combustion Engines

2013 ◽  
Vol 724-725 ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Calay ◽  
Mohamad Y. Mustafa ◽  
Mahmoud F. Mustafa
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology ◽  
Heat Engines ◽  
The Future

In this paper; technological challenges and commercialization barriers for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell are presented. Initially, the criteria that must be met by the energy source of the future is presented from the point of view of the authors. Sustainability, high energy content and combustion independence are recognized as the main decisive factor of future fuels, which are all met by hydrogen, consequently the application of fuel cells as combustion free direct energy converters of the future. Fuel cell technology as an alternative to heat engines is discussed in the context of the current status of fuel cells in various applications. Finally, the challenges facing fuel cell technology to replace heat engines from the commercial and research points of view are presented and discussed supported by current trends in the industry. It is concluded that there have been several advancements and breakthrough in materials, manufacturing and fabricating techniques of fuel cells since the eighties, many of these challenges which are associated with cost and durability still exist when compared with the already matured technology of internal combustion engines. Any effort to achieve these goals would be a significant contribution to the technology of the fuel cell.

Investigation of Electrode Degradation in Alkaline Fuel Cells: A Research Proposal

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Rivas ◽  
J. Martinez-Frias ◽  
Salvador M. Aceves
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Alkaline Fuel Cells ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology

Recent efforts in the development of fuel cell technology have concentrated on Proton Exchange Membrane, Solid Oxide, Molten Carbonate, and more recently, Direct Methanol fuel cells. Alkaline fuel cells, on the other hand, have received considerably less attention despite their successful use in the early years of the NASA Space Program. Alkaline fuel cells, however, still offer considerable potential as a viable energy conversion alternative, especially if the cell is incorporated into a regenerative system where the required reaction gases are produced. In this work, a review of the current status of development of alkaline fuel cells is undertaken with the objective of identifying areas for advancement of alkaline fuel cell technology. Specific areas of research have been identified and are described. These areas include detailed studies characterizing the evolution of the degradation of electrodes in alkaline fuel cells.

Fuel Cells as Energy Sources for Future Mobile Devices

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sari Tasa ◽  
Teppo Aapro
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Mobile Device ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology

Mobile device manufacturers would like to provide totally wireless solutions—including charging. Future multimedia devices need to have longer operation times as simultaneously they require more power. Device miniaturization leaves less volumetric space available also for the energy source. The energy density of the Li-ion batteries is high, and continuously developed, but not at the same speed as the demand from devices. Fuel cells can be one possible solution to power mobile devices without connection to the mains grid, but they will not fit to all use cases. The fuel cell system includes a core unit, fuel system, controls, and battery to level out peaks. The total energy efficiency is the sum of the performance of the whole system. The environmental performance of the fuel cell system cannot be determined yet. Regulatory and standardization work is on-going and driving the fuel cell technology development. The main target is in safety, which is very important aspect for energy technologies. The outcomes will also have an effect on efficiency, cost, design, and environmental performance. Proper water, thermal, airflow, and fuel management of the fuel cell system combined with mechanical durability and reliability are the crucial enablers for stable operation required from the integrated power source of a mobile device. Reliability must be on the same level as the reliability of the device the energy source is powering; this means years of continuous operation time. Typically, the end-users are not interested of the enabling technologies nor understand the usage limits. They are looking for easy to use devices to enhance their daily life. Fuel cell technology looks promising but there are many practical issues to be solved.

The Current Status of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Development in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingruo Hu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology

Abstract Potentially large amount of hydrogen resource in China could theoretically supply 100 × 106 fuel cell passenger cars yearly. The Chinese government highly values the hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Policies and plans have been put forward densely in the recent five years. Numerous companies, research institutes, and universities are developing proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-related technologies. A preliminary local supplier chain of fuel cell-related technology has been formed. However, the lifetime is still a key issue for the fuel cell technology. More than 3500 fuel cell range extender electric vehicles were manufactured during 2016 and 2018, and at the beginning of 2019, there have been more than 40 hydrogen refueling stations including both under operation and under construction. It is estimated the number of fuel cell-based electric vehicles will reach 36,000 by the end of 2020; therefore, lack of hydrogen refueling station has become a key restriction for development of the fuel cell vehicle industry.

scholarly journals Using Hybrid MCDM Methods to Assess Fuel Cell Technology for the Next Generation of Hybrid Power Automobiles

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Yo Huang ◽  
◽  
Yi-Hsuan Hung ◽  
Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Hybrid Electric Vehicle ◽  
Hybrid Electric Vehicles ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Cell Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Technology ◽  
Hybrid Electric

With their huge consumption of petroleum and creation of a large number of pollutants, traditional vehicles have become one of the major creators of pollution in the world. To save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, in recent years national governments have aggressively planned and promoted energy-saving vehicles that use green energy. Thus, hybrid electric vehicles have already become the frontrunners for future vehicles while fuel cells are considered the most suitable energy storage devices for future hybrid electric vehicles. However, various competing fuel cell technologies do exist. Furthermore, very few scholars have tried to investigate how the development of future fuel cells for hybrid electric vehicles can be assessed so that the results can serve as a foundation for the next generation of hybrid electric vehicle developments. Thus, how to assess various fuel cells is one the most critical issues in the designing of hybrid electric vehicles. This research intends to adopt a framework based on Hybrid Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) for the assessment of the development in fuel cells for future hybrid electric vehicles. The analytic framework can be used for selecting the most suitable fuel cell technology for future hybrid electric vehicles. The results of the analysis can also be used for designing the next generation of hybrid electric vehicles.

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