Course

Module-1

Overview of Fuel Cells, Fuel Cell performance. Low and high temperature fuel cells, Polymer electrolyte fuel cells, Alkaline fuel cells, Phosphoric fuel cells, Molten carbonate fuel cells, Solid oxide fuel cells, Fuel Cell thermodynamics, Fuel Cell Efficiency, Fuel Cell Electrochemistry, Fuel cell reaction kinetics- electrode kinetics, Current Potential Relationship, Sensitivity of Parameters in polarization curve.

Module-2

Cell components, Materials Properties and Process: Membrane, Electrode, Gas Diffusion Layer, Bipolar Plates. Fuel cell Operating Conditions: Operating Pressure and Temperature, Reactant flow rates. Fuel Cell Mass and Energy Balance. Fuel Cell Modelling: Conservation of Mass, Momentum, Energy, Species and Charge. Sizing of Fuel Cell Stack, Stack configuration, Fuel cell systems and Sample calculations.

Module-3

Hydrogen as a source of energy, physical and chemical properties, suitability of hydrogen as a fuel, salient characteristics, relevant issues and concerns.
Production of hydrogen, thermal-Steam reformation, gasification and woody biomass conversion, partial oxidation methods, biological hydrogen production, photo dissociation, direct thermal or catalytic splitting of water.
General storage methods, compressed storage-composite cylinders, metal hydride storage, carbon based materials for hydrogen storage. Safety aspects of hydrogen storage and handling.

• CO1: Understand and apply the basic thermodynamic and electrochemistry to fuel cell systems.
• CO2 : Understand the effect of operating conditions on the performance of the fuel cell.
• CO3 : Students able to understand and demonstrate the hydrogen production technologies, storage methods and strategies for transition to hydrogen economy.

• Andrew L. Dicks, David A.J. R and, Fuel Cell Systems Explained, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2018
• Frano Barbir, PEM Fuel Cell : Theory and Practice, Academic Press, Elsevier Inc,2012
• Bent Sorensen, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Emerging Technologies and Applications, Academic Press, Elsevier Science,2012
• Busby R L, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells : A Comprehensive Guide, Penn Well Books(2005).
• B.(2008); Hydrogen Fuel : Production, Transport and Storage, CRC Press
• Tomorrows Energy : Hydrogen, Fuel cells and the prospects for a cleaner planet, Peter Hoffman,The MIT Press, Cambridge, London, England.