Fuel Cells & Their Applications In India

1. FUEL CELLS
(ENERGY PRODUCTION)

2. 1.
What Is Energy?
Fuel Cells (Energy Production)

3. WHAT IS ENERGY?
 Energy is a concept at the centre of every scientific discipline. For example, in life science,
students learn that all organisms need energy to carry out their life functions. In physical
science, students learn about the conversion of potential to kinetic energy when an object is
set in motion, and the transfer of energy that occurs when that object collides with another. In
earth and space science, they study the role of energy in the creation and fate of the universe.
It is important for students to see that energy -- the ability to do work or cause change --
means the same thing no matter what the context.

4. 2.
What Is A Fuel Cell?
Fuel Cells (Energy Production)

5. WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?
 It is an electrochemical device which converts hydrogen and oxygen into water producing
electricity and heat in the process.
 It is much like a battery that can be recharged while you are drawing power from it.
 It provides a DC voltage that can be used to power motors, lights and any number of electrical
appliances.
 Impure hydrogen obtained from hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas, methane, LPG and
liquid petroleum products can be used in fuel cell as a fuel.

 Efforts are going on to develop cells that can use carbon monoxide as the fuel; if they are
successful, it should be possible to utilize coal as the primary energy source.

6. “
First demonstrated by Welsh scientist
Sir William Robert Grove
in February 1839.

7. 3.
Why Do We Need Fuel Cells?
Fuel Cells (Energy Production)

8. WHY DO WE NEED FUEL CELLS?
 Due to energy crisis all over the world.
 Due to the issue of global warming.
 Due to the unavailability of different renewable sources at each and every place due to
geographic condition.
 Fuel cell provides an alternate efficient non-polluting power source that produces no noise
and has no moving parts.

9. ADVANTAGES
 Clean Energy
Fuel Cells present a very clean energy source utilizing the potential of hydrogen which has the highest specific
energy (energy/unit mass). They produce water as a by-product and have a zero carbon footprint unless
reformation of fossil fuels is involved in which case a small amount of carbon di-oxide is released.
 High efficiency
Since fuel cells are electrochemical in nature, the energy efficiency is much higher as compared to most other
prevalent renewable energy sources i.e. a better portion of the input is converted into useful energy.
 Installation simplicity and Operational Ease
Fuel cells are easy to install. They have no moving parts, require very little space and produce no vibration or
noise. Consequently, there is very little maintenance involved.

10. DISADVANTAGES
 Hydrogen Supply Chain
Hydrogen has been identified as a potential replacement for conventional transport fuels and an energy carrier.
The production of hydrogen has always been an expensive process but hydrogen is released as a by-product in
the production of biomass; refineries; captive plants for fertilizer, soap and sugar industries. Reformed hydrogen
is sourced from hydrocarbons like natural gas and LPG.
 Hydrogen Logistics
50% of the operational cost of a fuel cell comes from storage and transportation. Hydrogen’s storage and
transportation pose major hurdles. Hydrogen needs to be stored under a pressure of 150 bar as per standards in
India. In the future as market matures and more players come in, the cost might go down. We have seen this
happen in the case of LPG and CNG in the past.

11. DISADVANTAGES
 Lifetime of components
The fuel cell stack, which is the most important component of the system, has a life of about 8000 hours. If we
assume that a site needs a backup for, let’s say, 8 hours a day, it means that a stack life is about three years after
which the stack has to be replaced. The cost of fuel cell stack represents between 30-40 per cent of the system’s
capital cost. In comparison diesel generator sets require maintenance every 500 hours and its comprehensive
annual maintenance cost is INR 12-14 / hour.
This means that in a 20 year time period, the cells have to be replaced six or seven times.

12. 4.
Types of Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells (Energy Production)

13. “  Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
 Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell
 Alkaline Fuel Cell
 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
 Methanol/Ethanol Fuel Cell
 Bio-Fuel Cell

14. 1. PEM FUEL CELL
 Low Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells have high power density and can be easily
started-up and stopped at low temperatures ranging from -35 to 40 degree Celsius, which have been found
suitable for application in light and heavy duty vehicles.
 The low temperature PEM fuel cells require high purity hydrogen, whereas the high temperature PEM fuel
cells operate at higher temperature i.e. around 120 degree Celsius and does not require very pure hydrogen.
Many companies have commercialized low temperature PEM fuel cells but high temperature PEM fuel cells are
still under development.
 In India, many organizations like Centre for Fuel Cell Technology - International Advanced Research Centre for
Powder Metallurgy, Hyderabad, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Bharat Heavy Electrical
Limited, Hyderabad; Thermax Limited, Pune are engaged in complete development of PEMFC system including
stack and system developments.

15. PEM FUEL CELL
 Despite the support from the Ministry for around two decades, the development of fuel cell system is not
reached to the stage, due to various reasons like -- Lack of engineering input -- Lack of infrastructure for
producing the systems in large numbers for trials/demonstration -- Reliance on pressurized bottled hydrogen
procured at high cost.

16. 2. PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELL
 The phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) have developed and commercialized with modules in the range of 100 -
400 kW for stationary power generation applications. It operates on propane/LPG/CNG gases with a life time
of more than 45000 hours. It can tolerate fuel with less than 2% CO.
 Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) imported, installed and operated a 200kW PAFC unit with LPG as fuel.
Later BHEL developed and demonstrated 50 kW PAFC system
using hydrogen from the Chlor-Alkali industries. The Naval
Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), Ambernath also
developed such systems of 1-15 kW capacity and demonstrated
successfully for field applications.

17. 3. ALKALINE FUEL CELL
 Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) is a low cost technology, because of its components are made from inexpensive
materials. Initially, it was used in space rockets. Now these fuel cells are not in use because of their inherent
problems, which have not been overcome. However, if further development takes place, these can be
deployed in various other applications such as telecommunication towers, scooters, auto-rickshaws, cars,
boats, household inverters, etc.

18. 4. SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL
 The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) are multi-fuel compliant like gasoline, alcohol, natural gas, biogas etc. The
fuels are reformed internally to producing hydrogen. SOFCs have been developed in two different designs i.e.
tubular and planar types.
 SOFC systems have been developed in the power range 250- 300 watts operating on propane, butane and LPG
in the countries like USA, Canada, Germany, UK, Denmark, Australia, Japan etc. Tubular type SOFC of 100kW
capacity and Planar configuration up to 25kW capacity have been developed. In India, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata has
recently demonstrated a 1000W anode supported stack with planar configuration. Another major effort in
development of the 3rd generation technology (metal supported SOFC) has been underway by NFTDC,
Hyderabad in collaboration with University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

19. 4. SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL

20. 5. METHANOL/ETHANOL FUEL CELL
 Direct Methanol/Ethanol Fuel Cell (DMFC/DEFC), uses methanol/ethanol to generate power less than 100W.
These fuel cells may be deployed in the devices with low power consumption like computerized notebooks,
mobile phones, military equipment and such other electronic devices. DEFC faces problem of incomplete
oxidation of ethanol to produce hydrogen gas. The researchers are trying to find suitable solution.
 The electronic companies, such as Samsung and Toshiba, and other companies developed such fuel cells. In
our country, some academic institutions/universities/engineering colleges are trying to get solution of the
problems like.

21. 5. METHANOL/ETHANOL FUEL CELL

22. 6. BIO-FUEL CELL
 Biological fuel cells (or Bio-fuel cells) are of two types:
Microbial fuel cells employ living cells such as microorganisms as the catalyst
Enzymatic bio-fuel cells, which use different enzymes to catalyse the redox reaction of the fuels.
 The production/consumption cycle of bio-fuels is considered to be carbon neutral and, in principle, more
sustainable than that of conventional fuel cells. The potential areas for its power application are portable
electronics, biomedical instruments, environmental studies, military and space research etc.
 In India, many institutions are active to develop suitable electrodes materials or tweak the microorganism.
Mediator-less and membrane-less MFCs have been demonstrated on laboratory scale.

23. 5.
Applications of Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells (Energy Production)

24. APPLICATIONS OF FUEL CELLS
 Distributed Generation
Fuel cells offer a convenient solution for standalone power in off-grid and power-deficit areas. They don’t
require much space and produce continuous, reliable power. Fuel cells are modular and the capacities can be
extended easily by adding more stacks. They can operate continuously to meet base-load power needs.
 Backup Power
Backup power requirements, in India, are addressed mostly with the use of diesel generators. Diesel generators
involve a lower capital outlay up-front but have to be maintained and serviced multiple times during their
lifetime. Add to that the harmful environmental effects of using diesel and the imminent price escalation and the
total lifecycle costs. Specific areas where fuel cells are already being implemented as backup sources include
telecom tower sites.

25. APPLICATIONS OF FUEL CELLS
 Trucks
One of the biggest upsides of fuel cell technology is that it has the potential to replace traditional methods of
powering automobiles. Indeed, Tata motors have launched a pilot bus, with support from the Government of
India’s Department of Scientific and Industrial research under the Technology Department & Demonstration
programme. The maximum speed of the bus is 70 km/h and grade ability is 17%, which is very suitable for city
application.

26. APPLICATIONS OF FUEL CELLS

27. 6.
Govt. Initiatives
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy

28. GOVT. ADOPTION OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
 The central government on 14th June 2016, released a draft report that lays down a road map for the use of
hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology in the transport sector as it tries to broaden the green economy in
India. The draft report Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells in India—A Way Forward has been published by the
ministry of new and renewable energy.
 The report calls for industry participation in projects that will help commercialize technology to use hydrogen
as fuel and reflects the concerns of policymakers over rising air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels in the
stationary power generation and transport sectors.
 Recommending a budget allocation of Rs.2,765 crore in total till 2022 for adoption of hydrogen as fuel, the
report said that “use of hydrogen as fuel for the stationary power generation and transportation sectors may
lead to a permanent solution” to such problems.

29. GOVT. ADOPTION OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
 “Transport emissions are about three-quarters from road vehicles. Over the past decade, transport’s
greenhouse emissions have increased at a faster rate than any other energy-using sector. Hydrogen is an
environmentally clean source of energy carrier to end-users, particularly in transportation applications,
without release of pollutants such as particulate matter or carbon dioxide at the point of end use. It is being
considered as the fuel for future, an environmentally friendly alternative to depleting fossil fuels. Its
application in transportation can be a game-changer in future,” draft report.
 It also called for the adoption of hydrogen as a fuel in India and the strengthening of research and
development for its use. In the initial phase, the report has suggested the conversion of compressed natural
gas (CNG)-based buses to hydrogen-compressed natural gas (H-CNG) and a study of its performance.
 The report also recommends the development of a fleet comprising 10 passenger cars, two-wheelers, SUVs,
three-wheelers and buses operating on fuel cell technology.

30. GOVT. ADOPTION OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
In 2006, India had constituted a National Hydrogen Energy Board and readied a National Hydrogen Energy Road
Map (NHERM) to accelerate the development of the hydrogen energy sector.
The NHERM covered all aspects of hydrogen energy use such as its production, storage, transport, delivery,
application, codes and standards, public awareness and capacity building, and formed the basis of India’s
hydrogen energy programme.
India has been betting big on renewable and clean energy to tackle climate change. The Narendra Modi
government has targeted the generation of 175 gigawatts of green energy by 2022.

31. 7.
Ongoing Projects &
Achievements
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy

32. ONGOING PROJECTS
 Polymer modified metal matrix nano-composites catalyst : Performance screening in alkaline
medium (IIEST, Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal).
 Development of bio electrodes for Biofuel Cell (IIT Guwahati).
 Titania nanotubes as an alternative catalyst support for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (IIT Madras).
 Development of Platinum free hybrid electro-catalyst based on nano-structured metal
particles and grapheme for fuel cell applications (IMMT, Bhubaneswar).

33. ACHIEVEMENTS
 Indigenous base for research & industrial production being established.
 R&D projects are leading to technology/process/material development.
 Prototypes of PEMFCs and PAFCs developed.
 The application of fuel cells demonstrated for decentralised power generation .
 A Fuel Cell (PEMFC)-battery hybrid van has been developed in the country.
 3 kW capacity UPS based on PEMFC developed.
 Reformer for a 10 kW PEMFC system developed and tested.

34. THANKS!