Third, most, but not all, fuel cell systems are composed of three primary subsystems. The hydrocarbon is not converted to hydrogen, methanol, or any other chemical prior to entering the fuel cell stack. Figure 2 shows the fuel cell performance predicted by the dpfc model with and without the progressive timestepping method in the iteration loop. Jun 16, 2000 the performance of a singlechamber solid oxide fuel cell was studied using a ceriabased solid electrolyte at temperatures below 773 kelvin. Solid oxide fuel cell operating on hydrocarbon fuel metadata updated. Hydrocarbon fuels are one of the most common global environmental pollutants which cannot be easily degraded owing to their hydrophobic nature. Common alcohol fuels are methanol ch 3oh and ethanol c 2h 5oh. Jul 18, 2017 the commercialization of the natural gas fuel cell has finally come to the fore, thanks to the recent development of electrode materials that maintain longterm stability in hydrocarbon fuels. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel often.
To enable clean, energyefficient vehicles operating on clean, hydrocarbon based fuels powered by fuel cells, the goal is o fuel cell systems, including a fuel reformer, that have a peak energy efficiency of 45% and meet or exceed emissions standards with a cost. Proton exchange membrane pem fuel cell was manufactured by the energy partners inc. Fuel cell based power generation has been proposed to be applied in transport and distributed energy supply. Objective is to dramatically increase power density of liquid tin oxide sofc systems by combining liquid tin oxide sofc with grcdeveloped bilayer supported cell design that capitalizes on microchannel ceramic structure generated by an innovative process. A study of proton exchange membrane fuel cells pemfcs using hydrocarbon fuels propane. The worlds first fuel cell described in the early 1800s was fueled with hydrogen. The hydrocarbon fuel cell system is shown in the centre of figure 2. The reactor temperature was maintained at a constant temperature via a type k thermocouple and love controls microprocessor. The progressive timestepping method improved convergence and thereby is seen to extend the.
Us20080044708a1 hydrocarbonbased polymer for use of a fuel. The electrodereaction resistance was negligibly small in the. Grove utilized four cells, each containing hydrogen and oxygen, to produce electric power which was then used to split the water in the smaller upper cell into hydrogen and oxygen. Airhydrocarbon mixtures have a maximum burning velocity when the concentration of fuel is slightly above stoichiometric. New fuel cells running directly on hydrocarbons could be more environmentally friendly and efficient than hydrogen power. Aug 24, 2019 a fuel cell is a special type of battery in which the reactants are supplied from an external source as power is produced. In 20 there were over 4,000 fuel cell forklifts used in material handling in the us, 125 of which 500 received funding from doe 2012. At present, a conversion efficiency of about 26% may be achieved by an internal combustion engine and about 30% in a chp system using traditional power generation techniques. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen usually from air to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes. The potential for improving energy efficiency using direct hydrocarbon fuel cells is analyzed. A protonconducting fuel cell operating with hydrocarbon. Fuel cell engine technology hydrogen fuel cell engines and related technologies.
A fuel processor is required to convert commercially available hydrocarbon fuels pipeline natural gas png, liquefied petroleum gas lpg, compressed natural gas cng, biogas and others into syn gas h 2, co, co 2 and h 2 o used as fuel in sofc. Us8419928b2 hydrocarbon fuel oil for use in fuel cell. The maximum theoretical concentration of hydrogen in the effluent gas using pure oxygen is 66. The perceived poor durability of hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte membranes remains a significant hurdle for the integration of nonfluorous, solid polymer electrolytes into electrochemical systems such as fuel cells. New hydrocarbon fuel cells with high efficiency and low cost. Hydrocarbon fuel oil with paraffins as the main constituent for use in fuel cell systems is provided having 1 paraffins of less than carbons constitute not less than 60% by mass. One objective is to make structural and compositional changes to the largest electrical resistance element of the cell, the electrolyte. Grove utilized four cells, each containing hydrogen and oxygen, to produce electric power which was then used to split the water in. Cairns, direct hydrocarbon fuel cell with aqueous electrolytes, in in fuel cells and fuel batteries, pp.
Gm hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as auto makers work collectively to reduce their carbon footprint, dependence on petroleum to power vehicles presents a critical challenge. You will learn more about these different types of hydrocarbons later in this chapter. Catalytic production of h from hydrocarbon fuel for fuel. Hydrocarbon membrane doe hydrogen and fuel cells program. The commercialization of the natural gas fuel cell has finally come to the fore, thanks to the recent development of electrode materials that maintain longterm stability in hydrocarbon fuels. Most fuel cells are powered by hydrogen, which can be fed to the fuel cell system directly or can be generated within the fuel cell system by reforming hydrogenrich fuels such as methanol, ethanol, and hydrocarbon fuels. Fuel cells could be an efficient energy source for vehicles of the future. Thin film ysz is often required for new electrolyte materials as blocking layer. Doe fuel cell program hydrocarbon membrane project. The key to a hydrogen economy ammonia fuel cell systems. Hydrocarbon fuels an overview sciencedirect topics.
Ethane conversion to ethylene in a direct hydrocarbon fuel. Failure of a fuel cell gasket can cause the reactant gases to mix and can lead to failure of the fuel cell. Researcharticle an investigation of direct hydrocarbon propane fuel cell performance using mathematical modeling bhavanaparackal,1,2,3 hamidrezakhakdaman,4 yvesbourgault,5 andmartenternan 1,2,6. The direct electrochemical oxidation of dry hydrocarbon fuels to generate electrical power has the potential to accelerate substantially the use of fuel cells in transportation and distributed. In the1960s, international fuel cells in windsor connecticut developed a fuel cell power. These may be blended with hydrocarbons for use in internal combustion engines. While hydrogen is still the most common fuel, hydrocarbon fuels offer several advantages including availability at a lower cost, higher storage density and existing infrastructure. First fuel cellfirst fuel cell 3 in 1839, william grove, a british jurist and amateur physicist, first discovered the principle of the fuel cell. The recent development of fuel cell research activity, however, triggered the processing of fuels for compact and portable systems. Fuel cell systems are a clean, efficient, reliable, and quiet source of power.
Pdf hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels for fuel cells. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel often hydrogen and an oxidizing agent often oxygen into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. The merit of using hydrocarbon fuels directly is discussed. Studies are being done on direct hydrocarbon fuel cells because they have the potential to be energetically more efficient than hydrogen fuel cells. Ammonia as a fuel cell fuel very mild enthalpy of reforming nh 3 is a liquid at room temperature and 10 atm power density is comparable to other liquid fuels vaporizes when throttled no flash line required essentially nonflammable, nonexplosive 180 kwh of electricity from 15 gallons ammonia 38 kg with 50% efficient fuel cell system. Thermocatalytic co2free production of hydrogen from. Molten carbonate fuel cells can operate using pure hydrogen or light hydrocarbon fuels. A fuel cell is composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Reaction of hydroxyl radicals with sulfonated phenylated polyphenylenes. It is a plot of cell potential difference, v, versus current density macm 2.
The challenges and recommended improvements in direct hydrocarbon fuel cells are presented. A study of proton exchange membrane fuel cells pemfcs using hydrocarbon fuels propane and butane is reported. A fuel cell is a special type of battery in which the reactants are supplied from an external source as power is produced. While hydrogen is still the most common fuel, hydrocarbon fuels. Hickner sandia national laboratories chemical and biological technologies p.
An investigation of direct hydrocarbon propane fuel cell performance using mathematical modeling bhavanaparackal,1,2,3 hamidrezakhakdaman,4 yvesbourgault,5 andmartenternan 1,2,6. Fuel cells do not need to be periodically recharged like batteries, but instead continue to produce electricity as long as a fuel source is provided. Fuel cell vehicles reforming hydrogen carrier fuels on. The development of fuel cell technology focuses mainly on the use of hydrogen as fuel or carrier of energy for its operation. Previously it was known that dpfcs are much different than hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cells pemfcs. Box 5800 albuquerque, nm 87185 may 16th 2006 this presentation does not contain any proprietary or confidential information. Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels. The present study involves the degradation of hydrocarbons by biosurfactant producing bacterial consortia.
Solid oxide fuel cell operating on hydrocarbon fuel data. An investigation of direct hydrocarbon propane fuel cell. Realworld reading link if you have ridden in a car or a bus, you have used. Hydrocarbon fuels journal of petroleum and environmental. An introduction to fuel cells and hydrogen technology by brian cook, heliocentris vancouver, canada whereas the 19th century was the century of the steam engine and the 20th century was the century of the internal combustion engine, it is likely that the 21st century will be the century of the fuel cell. A lowoperatingtemperature solid oxide fuel cell in. It consists of four matched modular skids, which were assembled at the site into a complete power plant. It is immediately apparent that the hydrocarbon fuel cell system has one less box than a hydrogen fuel cell system. In addition to gms industryleading development of batteryelectric vehicles, the company continues to pursue promising alternative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells. These contaminants include sulfur and carbon compounds, and residual liquid fuels depending on the type of fuel cell that can deactivate the fuel cell catahydrogen fuel cell engines and related technologies. This research task is divided into several subtasks to address fundamental material research needs in the areas of hydrocarbon pem development. Direct hydrocarbon fuel cells are fuel cells than use hydrocarbons directly as fuel instead of the most commonly used fuel in a fuel cell, hydrogen.
Second, many aspects as to how this system can be integrated into future energy systems are introduced, such as working alongside renewable electricity production to store electrical. Green liquid hydrocarbon fuels glhf that can fit seamlessly into existing fuel storage and distribution infrastructure appear to be both a necessity and a likely contributor to the future global fuels scenario. The perceived poor durability of hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte membranes remains a significant hurdle for the integration of nonfluorous, solid polymer electrolytes. In addition to this pure hydrogen type, there are hydrocarbon fuels for fuel cells, including diesel, methanol see. The ions migrate through the electrolyte to the anodeor fuel electrodewhere they react with hydrogen which is formed from a hydrocarbon fuel like natural gas or biogas to produce water, co. In order to elucidate the mechanism of free radical degradation in a promising class of hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte membranes based on sulfonated phenylated polyphenylenes. Mar 16, 2000 the direct electrochemical oxidation of dry hydrocarbon fuels to generate electrical power has the potential to accelerate substantially the use of fuel cells in transportation and distributed. Such organisms and their resulting fossil fuels typically have an age of millions of years, and sometimes more than 650 million years.
The environmental benefits the only emission from the tailpipe of a fuel cell vehicle operating on hydrogen gas is water vapor. Fuel cells offer a unique combination of high efficiency and ultralow emissions for converting hydrocarbon fuels into electricity. Direct oxidation of hydrocarbons in a solidoxide fuel cell. Pdf direct hydrocarbon fuel cell 19th annual power sources conference maget, h. A number of process routes can be effectively employed to convert biofeedstock into glhfs. The present invention provides a hydrocarbon based polymer for use in an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell having high durability, an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell using the polymer, a fuel cell using the electrolyte membrane. Gm hydrogen fuel cell vehicles gm heritage center home. No fuel processor is needed if hydrogen is used directly as a fuel source. A fuel cell forklift also called a fuel cell lift truck is a fuel cell powered industrial forklift truck used to lift and transport materials. Air hydrocarbon mixtures have a maximum burning velocity when the concentration of fuel is slightly above stoichiometric. These research areas include pem development, addressing the catalystmembrane. Reading check explain the origin of the terms saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Fuel cells can vary from tiny devices producing only a few watts of electricity, right up to large power plants. The performance of a singlechamber solid oxide fuel cell was studied using a ceriabased solid electrolyte at temperatures below 773 kelvin.
Figure shows the fuel cell performance predicted by the dpfc model with and without the progressive time. When a hydrocarbon, such as methane, is introduced to the anode in. Figure 12 chemical structure of common fuels hydrogen fuel cell engines and related technologies. New hydrocarbon fuel cells with high efficiency and low. Partial oxidation of hydrocarbon or steam reforming of hydrocarbons is located at the first process.
Hydrogen properties objectives at the completion of this module, the technician will understand. The first section of this report introduces the technological aspects of the co 2 electrochemical cell, which in. Fuel cells require relatively pure fuel, free of specific contaminants. Hydrocarbon flow rates were metered by gilmont flow meters. A fossil fuel is a fuel formed by natural processes, such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing organic molecules originating in ancient photosynthesis that release energy in combustion. However, the development of fuel cell is still in its early stages, which must overcome. Po process can be carried out catalytically or noncatalytically. An investigation of the durability of a hydrocarbon elastomeric seal material developed for proton exchange membrane fuel cells was performed by comparing the tearing energy required for crack propagation of as. A hydrocarbon that has at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms is an unsaturated hydrocarbon.