FUEL CELL -KIT
Fuel Cell Principle
A fuel cell is a device that generates electrical energy by converting the stored energy in chemical bonds (known as chemical potential energy) into electrical energy. The fuel used in a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) cell is a combination of hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2). The process inside the cell produces water, direct current (DC), and heat as its waste products.
COMPONENT AND ASSEMBLY
Fuel cells consist of two electrodes that conduct electrons – the anode and the cathode. The electrodes are coated with Pt/C catalyst layer and separated by an electrolyte (Nafion Membrane) that conducts ions (protons).
Anode Graphite Plate
Cathode Graphite plate
Membrane Electrode Assembly
Theoretically the cell voltage is 1.23 V, but practically the voltage various ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 V.
Reaction of Zinc with Dilute Sulphuric Acid
Zinc is more reactive than hydrogen and it displaces hydrogen from dilute acids. Zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid to form zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas is evolved. This is a single displacement reaction of a non-metal by a metal.
The products ZnSO4 and H2 (g) are entirely different in chemical composition and chemical properties from the reactants Zn and H2SO4. So, this reaction is a chemical change.
Sodium borohydride reacts with water to generate large amounts of hydrogen, according to the following reaction:
NaBH4 + 4 H2O ⇒ 4 H2 + NaB(OH)4
This reaction approaches a remarkable 20 % gravimetric efficiency when calculated in relation to the weight of the NaBH4 alone, and in excess of 6 wt.% when calculated in relation to both water and NaBH4.
However, the reaction requires a catalyst. Without the catalyst, sodium borohydride dissolves in water without noticeable hydrogen generation. With inadequate catalysts, on the other hand, the reaction results in the hydrated forms of borax, which significantly decreases the overall gravimetric efficiency and increases the cost and energy input in the regeneration process.
Open circuit voltage 0.8 V, commercial circuit available for with LED or DC fan with less than 0.6 V operation can be connected.The fuel cell gas diffusion layer (GDL) and GDE will be supplied using JNT, AvCarb and Toray Carbon Cloth and Carbon Paper.