Fuel cells as perspective chemical sources of electric energy
The material is a brief overview of the current status of the fuel cells primitive forms and electric power installations based on them on the Western and domestic markets. Chemical current sources are divided into three large groups: expendable chemical cells, chargeable cells and fuel cells. Their strengths and shortcomings are described. Device description and operation concept of fuel cells (FC) is given. Fundamentally all of the FCs are organized similar, but there is a number of differences, like: type of electrolyte fluid, structural material, operational temperature, electrode reactions, structural variations. Electrode reactions in polyethylene, alkaline, phosphoric acid, molten-carbonate, solid oxide FCs and basic diagram of electric power installation on FC are given. Thermodynamic analysis of «coefficient of thermal efficiency» characteristic quantity for FC or heat engine is described. Concept specialties of different application electric power installations (FCEPE) on FC with an alkaline electrolyte fluid are analyzed. Facility ratings of spacecraft Appolo, Shuttle, Buran and specialties descriptions of power installations concept for submarine project 613(e), VAZ automobiles and steady-state cogeneration plant are given. Nowadays electric power installations on FC with solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) are the most technologically advanced system. FCEPE are used for the emergency service, stand-alone power generation systems besides vehicles (system). A great number of firms, including Plug Power, UTC, Canadian Ballard Power Systems Inc., German Siemens, deal with FCEPE development and production. Similar research and development of FCEPE are performed by Russian Nuclear Center «Kurchatov Institute», Russian Federal Nuclear Centre- All-Russian Research Institute for Experimental Physics, Primary Research Studies Institute of Naval Electrical and Process Engineering, and many other research centers. Difficulties through the creation of EPE on FCEPE are reported. Electric power installations on FC with phosphoric acid electrolyte have come to a head of the industrial small-batch manufacturing. Case history of electric power installations in Russia is given. Test descriptions of leading firms in generation EPE on FC with molten carbonate and solid oxide electrolytes, direct oxidation of chemical agents and mobile fuel cells are presented.