Fuel Cell Types and Factors Affecting Them

Joshua O. S, Ejura G. J, Essien V. E, Olokungbemi I. B, Oluwaseun A. Y, Okon E. P

Abstract: Fuel cell is an excellent power generation source where electric current is generated with no environmental or noise pollution as the end product of the process is heat and water. This technology in which about six fuel cell types evolved in the pasted decade was base on the electrolyte used in each, and has a major limitation in competing with other contemporary power technology sources due to the high capital cost of the various fuel cells that arises mainly from the use of platinum or nickel as catalyst. The high cost of fuel cell is by far the largest factor contributing to the limited market penetration of the technology. This paper examines the components of the fuel cell types that gives rise to the various features exhibited by each fuel cell type and concluded that proton exchange membrane fuel cell [PEMFC] is the most favourite and most likely to be developed easily in other to compete with other contemporary energy source in terms of price and efficiency.

Keywords: fuel cell, temperature, electrolyte, efficiency, catalyst, power density.