Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.3
Operating parameters of fuel cells
Low temperature
High temperature
AFC
PEM, PEFC
PAFC
MCFC
SOFC
Electrolyte
Potassium hydroxide Proton exchange,
polymeric membrane
Phosphoric acid
Lithium carbonate, potassium
carbonate
Zirconium oxide
(
C) 60-120
Operating
temperature
70-100
160-220
600-650
800-1,000
(
F) 140-248
158-212
320-428
1,112-1,202
1,472-1,832
Catalyst
Platinum, palladium,
nickel
Platinum
Platinum
Nickel
Not necessary
Materials for
construction
Plastics, graphite
Metals, graphite
Graphite
compounds
Nickel, inox steel
Metals, ceramic materials
Oxidant
O
2
Air
Air
Air
Air
Electric
efficiency (%)
60
40-60
50
45-55
45-60
Power density
(mW/cm
2
)
300-500
300-900
150-300
150
150-270
Power range
(kW)
5-80
5-250
<
11,000
<
2,000
100
Starting time
Minutes
Minutes
1-4 h
5-10 h
5-10 h
Applications
Space, transportation Small cogeneration
plants, transportation
Cogeneration plant Cogeneration, industrial plants Cogeneration, industrial plants
Advantages
High power density High power density,
low corrosion,
reduced starting time
High-efficiency
cogeneration
High-efficiency cogeneration,
high-temperature recoverable
heat, internal reforming
High-efficiency cogeneration, high-
temperature recoverable heat,
internal reforming, no catalyst
Disadvantages
Low resistance to
CO, high quality of
hydrogen
Low resistance to
CO, presence of
water
Low resistance
to CO
Short material life, CO
2
recirculating, long starting time
High temperature, long starting time
Low temperature:
AFC
alkaline fuel cell,
PEM
proton exchange membrane fuel cell,
PEFC
polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cell,
PAFC
phosphoric acid
fuel cell, High temperature:
MCFC
fuse carbonate fuel cell,
SOFC
solid oxide fuel cell
