There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. C

Question

There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. Compare the two systems in terms ofcomponents, system performance, capital and operating cost, andenvironmental impacts. Where would I find these similarities? There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. Compare the two systems in terms ofcomponents, system performance, capital and operating cost, andenvironmental impacts. Where would I find these similarities? Where would I find these similarities?

Explanation / Answer

Cost

The history of fuel cell equipment costs has shown that the

price of fuel cells has dropped significantly as thecommercial

market grows and the manufacturing technology becomes

mature. Initial cost of phosphoric acid fuel cell powerplants

was $5,500/kW and the current system cost is about

$3,000/kW [8]. This cost is expected to decrease further to

around $1,500/kW in future

A lead-acid battery power plant has currently the lowest

battery cost at around $150/kWh because it has been the

longest and most fully developed battery technology. The

battery cost is projected to reduce to $100/kWh in thefuture.

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are 4 to 5 times more

expensive than the lead-acid types. Once the NiCd batteries

are fully mature, their price will drop but they will not beas

low as the lead-acid ones because of the raw material cost.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITY

During their life cycle operation, fuel cell power plants

produce environmental externalities in the process of fuel

reforming. However, storage batteries themselves do not

contain any environmental impacts even though the battery

charging sources produce various emissions and solid wastes.

A fuel cell power system emits by far less 2 SO ,X NO and other

particulates in the fuel reforming process compared to

conventional fossil fuel power plants.

The amount of 2 CO emissions from the fuel cell systemis

similar to that from conventional fossil-fuel power plants,but

the fuel cell system’s high efficiency ranging from 40%to

60% results in lower 2 CO emissions.

Batteries themselves do not produce any emissions during

their operation period even if the power sources providingthe

batteries with charging power usually at off-peak time

generate several chemical emissions and solid wastes. The

batteries displace power generation rather than replace it.

Therefore, the batteries’ environmental impacts shouldbe

computed based on the baseload fuel mix used to charge the

batteries. For instance, the 2 CO emissions from fuelcell power

plants were calculated as 376.43 kg 2 CO /MWh, wherethe

efficiencies of the fuel reformer and the power plant are

assumed to be 95% and 45% respectively. For batteries, the

2 CO emissions of the power sources that charge thebatteries at

off-peak should be computed. When the fuel mix during a

charging period of the batteries is supposed to be 40% of

nuclear power and 60% of coal power, then the batteries’ 2CO

emission rate would be 714.3 kg 2 CO /MWh.

When fuel cell power plants are to be dismantled at the end

of their commission, they do not exhibit any detrimental

impacts on environment and no specific hazards are

encountered. Component recovery rather than waste disposal

is likely to be the issue. In phosphoric-acid fuel cells,nickel

from the fuel reformer catalyst and platinum from the anode

and cathode will require recovery. For molten-carbonate fuel

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