Batteries and Fuel

Cells
Lab #3: Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Performance
Barbara Rios, Daniela Lima, Gabriel Mafia and Renata Guimaraes

Table of Contents
I.

Introduction..............................................................................................................3
A.

Background Information and Research..................................................................3

B.

Objective.................................................................................................................3

IV.

Data and Observations...............................................................................................5

A.

Observations...........................................................................................................5

B.

Data.........................................................................................................................5

V.

Calculations................................................................................................................6

VI.

Analysis.......................................................................................................................6

VIII.

Sources of Error............................................................................................................9

IX. Participation of the group.......................................................................................................9

X. References..................................................................................................................................9

I.

Introduction
A.

Background Information and Research

A fuel cell converts the chemical energy in hydrogen and oxygen

into direct current electrical energy by electrochemical reactions.
Fuel cells are devices that convert hydrogen gas directly into lowvoltage, direct current electricity.
Hydrogen is also found in many organic compounds, notably the
hydrocarbons that make up many of our fuels, such as gasoline, natural
gas,

methanol,

and

propane.

Hydrogen

can

be

separated

from

hydrocarbons through the application of heat - a process known as

reforming.
Nowadays, most hydrogen is made this way from natural gas. An
electrical

current

components

of

can

oxygen

also
and

be

used

hydrogen.

to

separate

This

water

process

is

into

its

known

as

electrolysis. Some algae and bacteria, using sunlight as their energy

source, even give off hydrogen under certain conditions. Instead of
burning

fuel

like

conventional

engines,

hydrogen

fuel

cells

work

through an electrochemical process.

To produce electricity, hydrogen atoms are ionized on one side of
an electrolyte membrane. Depending on the type of hydrogen fuel cell,
the efficiency ratio tends to average out around 60 percent of the
total amount of energy being released by the process above. However,
large-scale hydrogen fuel cells with molten carbonate or solid oxide
for their electrolyte membrane can use both the heat and electricity
produced for extra efficiency, getting as high as 85 percent.

B.

Objective

The objective of this lab was learn how to work with the Hydrogen
Fuel Cell Trainer Terminology and analyze through measured data and
theoretical data.
In addition, the main goal is to familiarize the students with
the equipment (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainer Terminology

II.

Materials
For this experiment, the equipment used were:

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trainer Terminology.

III.

Procedures

During this laboratory experiment, the group adjusted the

electronic load control potentiometer to vary the current generated by
the fuel cell.

5
At each setting point, according the table below, the group
paused for about 1 minute at each current level so that the system can
stabilize, and then record the current and voltage to two decimal
places.

IV.

Data and Observations

A.

Observations

During the experiment, the group could observe that the

temperature oscillated considerably. Also, when we set to 10 A, the
temperature was being highest, almost 40 C.

B.

Data
Following are the tables with the measured and calculated data.

Current
(A)
0.11
0.23
0.5
0.98
1.49
2.01
2.99
3.99
5.98
7.99
9.91

Table 1. MEASUREMENTS Air Flow Rate (%) Auto

Voltage( H2 flow
Fan Power Power
Cell Temp
V)
(L/min)
%
(W)
(C)
7.82
2
0
0.86
24.5
7.58
8
0
1.74
24.5
7.33
20
3
3.67
24.7
6.98
41
7
6.84
24.9
6.69
64
10
9.97
25.2
6.45
89
14
12.96
25.4
6.04
133
20
18.06
25.9
5.67
180
29
22.62
26.7
5.16
270
48
30.86
28.3
4.66
361
72
37.23
30.3
4.17
446
99
41.32
31.8

Table 2. MEASUREMENTS Air Flow Rate (%) 40%

Current
Voltage(V
(A)
)
H2 flow (L/min)
Power (W) Cell Temp ( C )
0.11
8.19
3
0.90
24.5
0.23
7.68
8
1.77
24.5
0.51
7.1
20
3.62
24.7
1.02
6.53
43
6.66
24.9

6
1.5
2.01
2.99
4
6.01
7.99
9.99

V.

6.28
6.02
5.73
5.5
5.06
4.58
4.17

64
88
133
180
272
362
451

9.42
12.10
17.13
22.00
30.41
36.59
41.66

25.2
25.4
25.9
26.7
28.3
30.3
31.8

Calculations

The theoretical potential Vref for this fuel cell is 1.23 V.

The voltage efficiency, hU is defined as the measured voltage divided
by Vref.
The current efficiency, ni is defined as the measured current
divided by Itheo.
The equation for Itheo is given below:

VI.

Analysis

After all data provided, it was possible plotting the voltage

versus current graph, as well as the power versus current curve.

Voltage x Current

Air Flow Rate AUTO

Linear (Air Flow Rate AUTO)
Air Flow Rate 40%
Linear (Air Flow Rate 40%)

Power x Current

Air Flow Rate AUTO

Air Flow Rate 40%

8
The measured current is also lower than the theoretical current
Itheo due to leakage and incomplete consumption of the fuel.
The measured potential (voltage) is always lower than the
theoretical potential due to the several over-potentials, as described
by bibliography.
According to the equation below and using the values of the Table
3, it was possible to obtain the current and voltage efficiencies
(Tables 4 and 5).

Table 3. Assumed Values

Theoretical potencial for each cell of
Vref (V)
this fuel cell
number of cells in the stack
n
Faraday's constant
F (Cmol-1)
Gas Constant

Pressure
Number of electrons per particle
conversion
Temperature of Vm

R (l
atm/mok
K)
P (atm)
z
T (K)

1.23
10
96,485.
00
0.0820
57
1.8
2
273.15

Table 4. Calculations Air Flow Rate (%)

Auto
Voltage
Current
Energy
Efficiency (%)
Efficiency (%)
Efficiency (%)
63.58
212.95
135.38
61.63
111.31
68.60
59.59
96.79
57.68
56.75
92.54
52.52
54.39
90.14
49.03
52.44
87.44
45.85
49.11
87.04
42.74
46.10
85.82
39.56
41.95
85.75
35.97
37.89
85.69
32.47
33.90
86.03
29.17

9
Table 5. Calculations Air Flow Rate (%)
40%
Voltage
Current
Energy
Efficiency (%)
Efficiency (%)
Efficiency (%)
66.59
141.96
94.53
62.44
111.31
69.50
57.72
98.73
56.99
53.09
91.84
48.76
51.06
90.74
46.33
48.94
88.43
43.28
46.59
87.04
40.55
44.72
86.04
38.47
41.14
85.55
35.19
37.24
85.46
31.82
33.90
85.76
29.08

With this calculation it is possible to see that the two first

data of the above tables present current efficiency more than 100%.

VII.

Conclusion

In the graphs it`s easy to see a subtle difference between the

graphs of auto and the 40% air flow rate. For the same value of
current the 40% have a smaller voltage and power. Also, the efficiency
of all its factors seems to decrease.

VIII.

Sources of Error

The errors occurred due the lack of precision of the equipment

that didn`t provided the exactly input that we needed. The equipment
also didn't had time settle before the values were taken.

IX. Participation of the group

10

I.

Introduction - DANIELA

III.

Procedures - DANIELA

IV.

Data and Observations - RENATA

V.

Calculations - BARBARA

VI.

Analysis - BARBARA

VII.

Conclusion - GABRIEL

VIII.

Sources of Error - GABRIEL

X. References
-

Fuel Cell Technicians Guide. First Edition. William Gleason.

US Department of Energy. "Advanced Technologies and Energy

Efficiency." Fuel Economy Guide. 2010. (July 22, 2010).
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/atv.shtml

US Department of Energy Hydrogen Program. "Hydrogen Fuel Cells." DOE

Fuel Cell Fact Sheet. October, 2006. (July 22, 2010).
www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/doe_fuelcell_factsheet.pdf