Syllabus - Fuel Cell Technology (CM-504 (B))

Fundamentals

Electrochemical cells, electrolytic cell, galvanic cell, construction and working, Faraday’s law of electrolysis, problems on displacements, classification of electrodes , Nernst’s theory, single electrode potential, EMF of cell, EMF series, common types of cells.

Introduction

Potential convention, current conventions, equilibrium constants, mass transfer limited current, Cottrell equation, factors affecting reaction rate and current, mechanism involving electrode reactions, reversibility kinetics, Butler-Volmer Equations, Tafel plots , Tafel equation, equations governing modes of mass transfer –Nernst-Planck Equation, Ficks law of diffusion, concept of Helmholtz plane.

Hydrogen fuel cell

Introduction to hydrocarbon based fuel cells, general issues, fossil fuels and other fuels used, H2production from renewable sources and storage, working of H2 fuel cell, safety issues, steam reforming, internal reforming, cost estimation.

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Introduction, working of PEMFC, electro chemistry modeling, exchange current density, local surface over potential (activation loss), current & mass conversion, gas phase species diffusivity, membrane phase electronic conductivity, osmotic drag coefficient, back diffusion flux, fuel crossover.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Introduction, working of SOFC, modeling SOFC(Nernst voltage, current distribution, & over potential of electrolytes, electric potential field) modeling current transport & potential field, activation over potential, cell potential, treatment of electrolyte interface, Ohmic over potential, Activation over potential, Modeling electrochemical potential.

Fuel Cell Systems

System processes –fuel processing, rejected heat utilization, system optimization – pressurization, temperature utilization, heat recovery, fuel cell networking, life cycle analysis of fuel cells, hybrid systems –introduction to microbial and enzymatic fuel cell.