Skip to main content

Working Of Fuel Cells

 




In a conventional power plant, fuel and air enter the power plant and products of combustion leave the unit. There is also a transfer of  heat to the cooling water and work is done in the form of electrical energy. The fuel cell accomplishes this objective converting the chemical energy of fuel directly to the electricity. In Fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen react to form water. The flow of electrons in the external circuit is from the anode to cathode. Hydrogen enters at the anode side, and oxygen enters at the cathode side. At he surface of  the  ion-exchange membrane the hydrogen is Ionized according to the reaction 

                             2H2 ----------> 4H+  + 4e- 

The electrons flow through the external circuit and the hydrogen ions flow through the membrane through the cathode, where the following reactions takes place :

                           4H+ + 4e- + O2 -------> 2H2O 

There is a potential difference between the anode and cathode, Thus there is a flow of electricity.

At a present, the fuel used in fuel cells is either hydrogen or a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The Oxidizer is usually oxygen. However current development id directed toward the production of fuel cells that use hydrocarbon fuels and air. The Fuel Cell is already being used to produce power for space and other special applications. 

Thermodynamics plays a vital role in the analysis, development and design of all power producing systems, including I.C engines and gas turbines as well as power absorbing systems like refrigerators and air conditioners. Considerations such as the increase of efficiency, improved design, optimum operating conditions, environmental pollution and alternative methods of power generation , involve, among other factors, the careful application of the fundamentals of the tehrmodynamics. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SIMPLE CARBURETOR - CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING

CONSTRUCTION OF SIMPLE CARBURETOR :  The main Components of Simple Carburetor are : Float Chamber, float, nozzle, venturi, throttle valve, inlet valve, and metering jet . In the float chamber, a constant level of petrol is maintained by the float and a needle valve.  The float chamber is ventilated to atmosphere.  This is used to maintain atmospheric pressure inside the chamber. The float which is normally a metallic hollow cylinder rises and closes the inlet valve as the fuel level in the float chamber increases to certain level. The mixing chamber contains venturi, nozzle and throttle valve. The venturi tube is fitted with the inlet  manifold. This tube has a narrow opening called venturi. A nozzle is provided just below the centre of this venturi. The nozzle keeps the same level of petrol as that of the level in the float chamber. The mixing chamber has two butterfly valves.  One is to allow air into the mixing chamber known as choke valve. The other is to al...
Post a Comment
Read more

MELTING FURNACES FOR FERROUS METALS : CUPOLA AND ITS WORKING

Various types of melting furnaces are used in different foundry shops, depending upon the quantity of metal to be melted at a time, and the nature of work that is carried out in the shop.  The primary objective in cupola is to produce iron of desired composition, temperature and properties at the required rate in the most economical manner. Besides, this furnace has many distinct advantages over the other types, e.g., simplicity of operation, continuity of production, and increased output coupled with a high degree of efficiency.  Description Of a Cupola : The Cupola Furnace consists of a vertical, cylindrical steel sheet, 6 to 12 mm thick, and lined inside with acid refractory bricks or acid tamping clay. The refractory bricks or the tamping clay used consist of  silicon oxide acid (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3). The lining is generally thicker in the lower where the temperatures encountered are higher than in the upper region. The shell is mounted either on a brick work fo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Air Refrigeration System :

 Advantages Of  Air Refrigeration : 1. The refrigerant used namely air is cheap and easily available. 2. There is no danger of fire or toxic effects due to leakages. 3. The weight to ton of refrigeration ratio is less as compared to other systems. Disadvantages Of Air Refrigeration : 1. The quantity of  Refrigerant used per ton of refrigeration is high as compared to other systems. 2. The COP of the system is very low. Therefore running cost is high. 3. The danger of frosting at the expander valves is more as the air contains moisture content. 
Post a Comment
Read more