Comparison Between Different Fuel Cells

Introduction: Fuel Cell

In this article, the comparison between polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell is given

Fuel Cell Comparison Parameters

• Electrolyte
• Operating temperature
• Electrical Efficiency
• Stack Size
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Challenges
• Applications

Comparison Between Fuel Cells

Fuel cell types	Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell ( PEMFC )	Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell ( PAFC )	Alkaline Fuel Cell ( AFC )	Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell         ( MCFC )	Solid Oxide Fuel Cell   ( SOFC )
Electrolyte	Perfluoro sulfonic acid	Phosphoric acid soaked in porous matrix	Alkaline polymer membrane	Molten lithium sodium / potassium carbonates soaked in porous matrix	Yttria stabilized zirconia
Operating temperature	< 120 degree C	150 – 200 degree C	< 100 degree C	600 – 700 degree C	500 – 1000 degree C
Advantages	Low weight and volume	Efficiency more than 85% when used for co-generation of electricity and heat	Lower carbonate formation as compared to liquid AFCs	Does not require external reformer to convert fuels as natural gas and biogas into hydrogen	High efficiency
	Low temperature operation		Low operating temperature		Fuel flexibility
	Solid electrolyte reduces corrosion and electrolyte management systems		Quick start up	Less cost as compared to alkaline, phosphoric and PEM fuel cells	Solid electrolyte
	Quick start up and load following			Improved efficiency as compared to phosphoric acid fuel cell plant	Hybrid / gas turbine cycle
Disadvantages/ challenges	Expensive catalysts Sensitive to fuel impurities	Long start up time	CO2 as byproduct which affect cell performance and durability	Less durable	High temperature operation leads to corrosion and breakdown of cell components
	Addition cost required for reactor to reduce carbon monoxide	Carbon monoxide easily binds with platinum catalyst at the anode which decreases efficiency	Recirculate electrolyte operation reduce effect of carbonate formation on the electrolyte but increases corrosion and difficult to hand different pressure	Operate at higher temperature which leads to corrosion and breakdown of cell components
		Higher cost due to platinum catalyst		Slow start up	Slow start up
		Large size and heavy		Low power density	Transportation not possible
		Sulphur sensitivity			Thermal shielding for personal protection
Application	Portable power	Distributed generation	Military space transportation	Electrical utility	Auxiliary power
	Back-up power		Backup power	Distributed generation	Electric utility
	Primarily used for transportation applications			Industrial and military operations	Distributed generation
	Some stationary applications Vehicles like cars, buses, and heavy-duty trucks
Electrical efficiency	60% direct	40%	60%	50%	60%
Stack size	< 1 to 100 kW	5 – 400 kW, 100 kw module ( liquid PAFC ) < 10 kW ( Polymer membrane )	1 – 100 kW	300 kW to 3 MW and 300 kW module	1 kW – 2 MW

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