FUEL CELLS

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Process inverse to electrolyser.

During the operation of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells, many interrelated and complex phenomena occur. 

These processes include mass and heat transfer, electrochemical reactions, and ionic and electronic transport. Most of these processes occur in the through-plane direction as shown in the sandwich comprises multiple layers including diffusion media that can be composite structures containing a macroporous gas-diffusion layer and microporous layer, catalyst layers, flow fields or bipolar plates, and a membrane. During operation fuel is fed into the anode flow field, moves through the diffusion medium, and reacts electrochemically at the anode catalyst layer to form hydrogen ions and electrons. The oxidant, usually oxygen in air, is fed into the cathode flow field, moves through the diffusion medium, and is electrochemically reduced at the cathode catalyst layer by combination with the generated protons and electrons. The water, either liquid or vapor, produced by the reduction of oxygen at the cathode exits the cell through either the cathode or anode flow field. The electrons generated at the anode pass through an external circuit and may be used to perform work before they are consumed at the cathode.

A fuel cell is comprised of :

1. Hydrogen (H2) to anode side (negative electrode)

2. H2 molecules react at anode, release electrons (e-) 

3. Electrons travel external circuit toward cathode (positive electrode), as electrical current, to do work

4. Hydrogen ions (H+, protons) exchange through solid polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to cathode

5. Hydrogen ions react with airborne oxygen (O2) and electrons at the cathode electrode to form water.

IR- solutions and its allied are exploring project on mobility and power generation using FCs at Colombia

and Andean Region.  if you want to evaluate our technology for a project using Fuel Cells please contact us

for additional information under NDA agreement.