Thermodynamics of Fuel Cells

Abstract

We have seen before that entropy generation in combustion, and subsequent heat transfer, leads to considerable irreversible work losses. The combustion loss can be attributed to the uncontrolled movement of electrons as new molecules are formed in the reaction. Fuel cells offer a process in which the electron movement is controlled, and thus no combustion losses occur. The performance of real life fuel cells is diminished by irreversible losses due to resistance, reaction activation and mass flow restrictions, and these will be discussed after the basic discussion of fuel cells and their efficiencies.