Life-cycle analysis of fuel cells

For the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), a number of environmentally critical items have been identified (Zapp, 1996). The carrier sheet electrolyte may be produced from yttrium-stabilised zirconium oxide with added electrodes made of, e.g., LaSrMn-perovskite and NiO-cermet. Nitrates of these substances are used in manufacturing, and metal contamination of wastewater is a concern. The high temperature of operation makes the assembly very difficult to disassemble for decommissioning, and no process for recovering yttrium from the YSZ electrolyte material is currently known. 

For molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs), a full life-cycle analysis has been attempted (Lunghi and Bove, 2003). Both electrodes and the electrolyte matrix are manufactured by mixing powdered constituents with binders and 

Life-cycle impact Negative electrode Positive electrode Electrolyte matrix Bipolar plate Total Unit 

It is seen from Table 6.4 that the largest life-cycle impacts come from the negative electrode manufacture. The attempt made in Table 6.5 to monetise 

The effect of these impacts can be greatly reduced if Pt is recovered and reused, as all heavy metals should be. A strategy for supply of Pt to the fuel cell industry is discussed by Jaffray and Hards (2003). In terms of weight, the stack breakdown on components is shown in Fig. 6.6 for two conventional material choices for the bipolar plates, graphite or aluminium. Recently, bipolar plates made of conducting polymers have been developed (Middleman et al., 2003), with thickness and weight reduction as a consequence. 

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Pehnt, M. (2003). Life-cycle analysis of fuel cell system components. In "Handbook of Fuel Cells - Fundamentals, Technology and Applications, Vol. 4 (Vielstich, W.,... 

Dhanushkodi, S.R., Mahinpey, N., Srinivasan, A., Wilson, M. 2008a. Life cycle analysis of fuel cell technology. Journal (rf Environmental Informatics, 11,36-44. 

Inputs and outputs of fuel cell production in terms of its life cycle. (Pehnt, M. Life cycle analysis of fuel cell system components. In Handbook of Fuel Cells—Fundamentals, Technology, and Applications (ISBN 0-471-49926-9), W. Vielstich, A. Lamm, and H.A. Gasteiger (eds.), Vol. 4, pp. 1293-1317, 2003. Copyright Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA. Reproduced with permission.)... 

Finally, a life-cycle analysis of an entire system is described, choosing a passenger car as an important example. This involves both the analysis of the car manufacture, including the specific additions to traditional cars necessary for fuel cell operation, and also the infrastructure impacts and contributions from the fuel provision and from the final disposal of the product. 

Sorensen, B. (2004d). Total life-cycle analysis of PEM fuel cell car. In "Proc. 15 World Hydrogen Energy Conf., Yokohama". 29G-09, CD Rom, Hydrogen Energy Soc. Japan. 

Zamel N and Li X (2006), Life cycle analysis of vehicles powered by a fuel cell and by internal combustion engine for Canada, Journal of Power Sources, 155, 297-310. 

Wang M, Elgowainy A, Han J (2010) Life-cycle analysis of criteria poUutant emissions from stationary fuel cell systems. US Department of Energy Hydrogen and Euel CeUs Program AN012... 

The actual work required for making a life-cycle analysis and assessment of a technology such as fuel cells may be summarised in the following way ... 

Life cycle assessment of SOFC technology is still uncommon due to the relatively early stage in technical development. However, several studies have been performed since the end of the 1990s. Since there is a lack of standard commercial equipment that could serve as a basis and reference point for analysis, LCA studies mostly refer to hypothetical concepts and/or extrapolate from laboratory and early market prototypes to commercial units. While the first studies had only little access to operation data at aU (for the fuel cell system itself but also for production processes), the main effort was set in the assessment of inventory data using assumptions, simplifications, and correlations [79, 80]. The main outcomes of these studies were the identification of weak points and the setting of benchmarks for further development. With more information about fuel cells available today and a simultaneous advancement in LCA methodology, the studies became more reliable and detailed, regarding system description [81] as well as the assessment of environmental impacts coimected with inputs and outputs [82]. Especially the extensive data of these two studies found their way to commercial databases for LCA [83] and thereby became available to LCA practitioners. In 2005, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)... 

The life cycle of fuel cells is shown in Figure 14.2. The Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis involves data collection and calculation procedures to quantify relevant inputs and outputs. These input and output flows involve... 

Jeong KW and Oh B S (2002), Fuel economy and life-cycle cost analysis of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. Journal of Power Sources, 105,58-65. 

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Limited (2008) Life cycle inventory analysis of the IP-SOFC stack concept. Real-SOFC Project, Realising reliable, durable energy efficient and cost effective SOFC systems. Integrated EU project nnder the 6th framework programme... 

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