Unit 1: Introduction – Motivation for fuel cells, fuel cells basics, classification of fuel cells, typical fuels, fuel cell system. [6 hours]
Unit 2: Thermodynamics of fuel cells – Review of thermodynamic concepts, reversible cell potential, energy conversion efficiency. [6 hours]
Unit 3: Electrochemistry of fuel cells – electrode potential, cell polarization, chemical kinetics concepts – global and elementary reactions, reaction rate, charge transfer reaction, chemisorption, electrode mechanism. [6 hours]
Unit 4: Transport Phenomena in Fuel Cells – multicomponent mixtures, Fisk’s law of diffusion, boundary layers – velocity, thermal, species transport of reactant, transport of electricity, cell performance, cell stacking. [6 hours]
Unit 5: Overview of Fuel Cell Types – basic principles, cell components, materials and manufacturing, performance – Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFCs), Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFCs), Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs), Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs), characterization of fuel cells. [6 hours]
Unit 6: Fuel cell system and environmental impact: various fuel cell subsystem, thermal management subsystem, pinch point analysis, hydrogen production and storage, other hydrocarbon fuels, impact of fuel cells – safety issues, cost expectation and life cycle analysis of fuel cells. [6 hours]

To know the importance of fuel cell technology and to have the fundamental knowledge required for its development.

To understand the working principle of various types of fuel cells.

At the end of the course, students will be able to
CO1: To know the basics of fuel cells and its applications.
CO2: To understand the various fundamental processes occurring in fuel cells and working principle of fuel cells.
CO3: To apply various fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and fluid mechanics to fuel cells.
CO4: To analyze the performance of fuel cells and the various losses occurred in fuel cells.
CO5: To determine the impact of fuel cells on the environment using life cycle assessment.

X. Li, Principles of Fuel Cells, Taylor & Francis , 2006

R. O'Hayre, S. Cha, W. Colella, and F. B. Prinz, Fuel Cell Fundamentals, Wiley , 2016

S. Basu, Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Springer , 2007

A. J. Bard, L. R., Faulkner, Electrochemical Methods, Wiley , 2000