Question

A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical reactor in which oxygen and hydrogen gas are reacted to produce energy. Rather than combusting hydrogen in the presence of oxygen, the overall reaction (1/2) O2 H2 → H2O is actually carried out as two `half-reactions’ occurring at separate electrodes. To complete the reaction, this forces electrons to pass through an external circuit from one electrode to the other, and this current can be used to do work; e.g., by driving a motor. Typical operating conditions for a solid-oxide fuel cell are 500-900 C and 5-15 bar. Consider a fuel cell in which a pure oxygen stream and a pure hydrogen stream enter at 11 bar and 700 C with stoichiometric flowrates. Assume that these reactants are consumed completely, and that the water generated by the reaction leaves in a third stream at the same T and P. Assume that the fuel cell operates at steady-state with a uniform temperature of 700 C. a) Write simplified first and

Answer 1

(d) Why is the fuel cell in Question (c) described as an alkaline fuel cell? (e) Another type of fuel cell uses methanol instead of hydrogen.

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