Energy Conversion in Fuel Cells

There are different types of fuel cells classified by the different electrolyte materials used as described in Chapter 1. The anode and cathode reaction characteristics are therefore different in each fuel cell type. Table 4.1 shows a 

In a PEMFC, a proton-conducting polymer membrane electrolyte is sandwiched between two porous electrically conducting electrodes. 

The electrochemical reactions at the anode and cathode sides take place simultaneously, producing electricity, water, and some heat owing to the irreversibilities associated with the electrode reactions, and charge conducting 

Electrochemical reactions and energy conversion process in a PEMFC. 

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Background Energy conversion in fuel cells is direct and simple when compared to the sequence of chemical and mechanical steps in... 

Background Energy conversion in fuel cells is direct and simple... 

In addition to electrochemical energy conversion in fuel cells, the reaction has applications in energy storage in metal-air batteries, in several industrial processes as the chloralkali electrolysis, and it causes corrosion of metals and alloys in the presence of air. That is why the efforts have been focused on elucidating the mechanism of this reaction and developing proper catalysts. 

In this context, the installation of new supply infrastructures for alternative fuels, e.g., H2, is an important additional economical and political factor, in particular for mobility applications. Dedicated well-to-wheel energy analysis has clearly shown that energy conversion in fuel cells has to be based on fuels derived from renewable sources, particularly when hydrogen is the fuel [4]. 

Ostwald s concepts marked the beginning of a great deal of research in the fuel cells field. Ostwald examined only the theoretical aspect of energy conversion in fuel cells, but completely ignored other practical aspects the question of whether the electrochemical... 

In this section, a number of electrocatalytic processes will be discussed where surface chemical bonding plays a central role in the reaction mechanism. The selection of reactions is far from complete and not representative of the wide range of technologically important electrocatalytic processes. The selection is biased towards the areas of electrochemical energy conversion and fuel cell electrochemistry, which have been catalyzing a renewed interest in the field of electrochemistry. 

The main problem in the development of an efficient electrochemical energy conversion device (fuel cell) is in the sluggish ORR kinetics even on the most catalytically active electrode materials, for example, on... 

Arvindan N.S., Rajesh B., Madhivanan M., and Pattabiraman R. (1999) HydrogengenCTation from natural gas and methanol for use in electrochemical energy conversion systems (fuel cell) , Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences, 6, 73-86. 

Hydrocarbons derived from fossil fuel are the main source of energy and raw material for petrochemicals in the industrial world. When not used in combustion to generate power and heat, fossil fuels are refined in various petrochemical transformation processes into purer and higher-valued products. This chapter continues the discussion by Leo Manzer to address opportunities for research in chemical sciences to reduce carbon (dioxide) emission. Although the large majority of carbon emission is from power generation and transportation, the discussion here focuses on hydrocarbon conversion in the chemical processing industry, with only a brief discussion of hydrocarbon conversion in fuel cell applications. 

The main technological drivers are listed in the Table 1. To compete with existing energy conversion devices, fuel cell systems must have high performance (both power density and efficiency), durability, low cost and, to fit in most niches, fuel flexibility. Whilst there are significant engineering challenges to achieve all these points, they aU require careful selection of the component materials in the cells. 

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