Mass transport phenomena in direct methanol fuel cells

Clean and highly efficient energy production has long been sought to solve energy and environmental problems. Fuel cells, which convert the chemical energies stored in fuel directly into electrical energy, are expected to be a key enabling technology for this century. This article is concerned with one of the most advanced fuel cells – direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). We present a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art studies of mass transport of different species, including the reactants (methanol, oxygen and water) and the products (water and carbon dioxide) in DMFCs. Rather than elaborating on the details of the previous numerical modeling and simulation, the article emphasizes: i) the critical mass-transport issues that need to be addressed so that the performance and operating stability of DMFCs can be upgraded, ii) the basic mechanisms that control the mass-transport behaviors of reactants and products in this type of fuel cell, and iii) the previous experimental and numerical findings regarding the correlation between the mass transport of each species and cell performance.

[1]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  Modeling of water transport through the membrane electrode assembly for direct methanol fuel cells , 2008 .

[2]  Qiang Ye,et al.  Transient Capillary Blocking in the Flow Field of a Micro-DMFC and Its Effect on Cell Performance , 2005 .

[3]  Qin Xin,et al.  Study of sintered stainless steel fiber felt as gas diffusion backing in air-breathing DMFC , 2004 .

[4]  Fuqiang Liu,et al.  Low Crossover of Methanol and Water Through Thin Membranes in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2006 .

[5]  Xianguo Li,et al.  Transport Phenomena in Fuel Cells , 2005 .

[6]  Y. H. Pan.  Advanced air-breathing direct methanol fuel cells for portable applications , 2006 .

[7]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  Two-phase, mass-transport model for direct methanol fuel cells with effect of non-equilibrium evaporation and condensation , 2007 .

[8]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  A two-dimensional, two-phase mass transport model for liquid-feed DMFCs , 2007 .

[9]  Siti Kartom Kamarudin,et al.  Overview on the challenges and developments of micro-direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) , 2007 .

[10]  In-Hwan Oh,et al.  Recent progress in passive direct methanol fuel cells at KIST , 2004 .

[11]  Hongtan Liu,et al.  Real time measurements of methanol crossover in a DMFC , 2007 .

[12]  Kan-Lin Hsueh,et al.  Semi-empirical model to elucidate the effect of methanol crossover on direct methanol fuel cell , 2006 .

[13]  Rong Chen,et al.  A novel electrode architecture for passive direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[14]  T. Zhao,et al.  A palladium-alloy deposited Nafion membrane for direct methanol fuel cells , 2003 .

[15]  Amir Faghri,et al.  Water and air management systems for a passive direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

[16]  Trung Van Nguyen,et al.  A Gas Distributor Design for Proton‐Exchange‐Membrane Fuel Cells , 1996 .

[17]  Ya-Ling He,et al.  Effect of cathode gas diffusion layer on water transport and cell performance in direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[18]  Michael G. Izenson,et al.  Water and Thermal Balance in PEM and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2004 .

[19]  Qiang Ye,et al.  Experimental investigations of the anode flow field of a micro direct methanol fuel cell , 2006 .

[20]  Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem,et al.  Control of methanol transport and separation in a DMFC with a porous support , 2006 .

[21]  Sarwan S. Sandhu,et al.  Prediction of methanol and water fluxes through a direct methanol fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane , 2005 .

[22]  Keith Scott,et al.  Material aspects of the liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell , 1998 .

[23]  Ay Su,et al.  Innovative Flow-Field Combination Design on Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Performance , 2005 .

[24]  Jim S. Cowart.  An experimental and modeling based investigation into the high stoichiometric flow rates required in direct methanol fuel cells , 2005 .

[25]  Dong-Hyun Peck,et al.  Prediction of anode performances of direct methanol fuel cells with different flow-field design using computational simulation , 2006 .

[26]  Antonino S. Aricò,et al.  Influence of flow field design on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2000 .

[27]  T. Zhao,et al.  Electrolytic Hydrogen Evolution in DMFCs Induced by Oxygen Interruptions and Its Effect on Cell Performance , 2005 .

[28]  Jeremy P. Meyers,et al.  Simulation of the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell III. Design and Optimization , 2002 .

[29]  G. Fedder,et al.  Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based micro-scale direct methanol fuel cell development , 2006 .

[30]  Zhen Guo,et al.  Miniature DMFCs with passive thermal-fluids management system , 2006 .

[31]  Andreas Schmitz,et al.  Influence of diffusion layer properties on low temperature DMFC , 2004 .

[32]  T. Zhao,et al.  Abrupt Decline in the Open-Circuit Voltage of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells at Critical Oxygen Feed Rate , 2005 .

[33]  Wenpeng Liu,et al.  Modeling water transport in liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[34]  Rong Chen,et al.  Effect of cell orientation on the performance of passive direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[35]  Kah-Young Song,et al.  MEA design for low water crossover in air-breathing DMFC , 2007 .

[36]  Kaspar Andreas Friedrich,et al.  Performance and methanol permeation of direct methanol fuel cells: dependence on operating conditions and on electrode structure , 2004 .

[37]  Qiang Ye,et al.  In situ visualization study of CO2 gas bubble behavior in DMFC anode flow fields , 2005 .

[38]  F. Tseng,et al.  A spontaneous and passive waste-management device (PWMD) for a micro direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

[39]  Erich Gülzow,et al.  Study of membrane electrode assemblies for direct methanol fuel cells , 2002 .

[40]  Rong Chen,et al.  Porous current collectors for passive direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[41]  Keith Scott,et al.  Gas evolution and power performance in direct methanol fuel cells , 1999 .

[42]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  Liquid Water Transport in Gas Diffusion Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells , 2004 .

[43]  Ay Su,et al.  Effects of cathode flow fields on direct methanol fuel cell-simulation study , 2007 .

[44]  Ulrike Krewer,et al.  Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) : analysis of residence time behaviour of anodic flow bed , 2004 .

[45]  Fuqiang Liu,et al.  Water Transport Through Nafion 112 Membrane in DMFCs , 2005 .

[46]  Tatyana V. Reshetenko,et al.  Cathode structure optimization for air-breathing DMFC by application of pore-forming agents , 2007 .

[47]  Development of High Performance Micro DMFCS and a DMFC Stack , 2005 .

[48]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  In situ measurements of water crossover through the membrane for direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[49]  Water Balance in PEM and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2005 .

[50]  Jiujun Zhang,et al.  A review of water flooding issues in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell , 2008 .

[51]  T. Zhao,et al.  Diphenylsilicate-incorporated Nafion® membranes for reduction of methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[52]  Keith Scott,et al.  Carbon dioxide evolution patterns in direct methanol fuel cells , 1999 .

[53]  Hyuk Chang,et al.  Membrane electrode assembly for passive direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[54]  Denis Kramer,et al.  Analysis of Gas Diffusion Layer and Flow-Field Design in a PEMFC Using Neutron Radiography , 2008 .

[55]  G. Lindbergh,et al.  A model for mass transport in the electrolyte membrane of a DMFC , 2007 .

[56]  Keith Scott,et al.  Engineering aspects of the direct methanol fuel cell system , 1999 .

[57]  T. Baumhöfer,et al.  Measurement of the current distribution in a direct methanol fuel cell : confirmation of parallel galvanic and electrolytic operation within one cell , 2008 .

[58]  Chaoyang Wang,et al.  Water and methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells-Effect of anode diffusion media , 2008 .

[59]  Chaoyang Wang,et al.  Development and characterization of a silicon-based micro direct methanol fuel cell , 2004 .

[60]  T. Zhao,et al.  Effect of anode backing layer on the cell performance of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2006 .

[61]  Rong Chen,et al.  Effect of membrane thickness on the performance and efficiency of passive direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[62]  Novel Approach to Recycling Water and Reducing Water Loss in DMFCs , 2003 .

[63]  C. Chen,et al.  Performance of an air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell , 2003 .

[64]  K. Sundmacher,et al.  Mass, charge and energy transport phenomena in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) used in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC): Modelling and experimental validation of fluxes , 2006 .

[65]  Jun Shen,et al.  Architecture for portable direct liquid fuel cells , 2006 .

[66]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  Mathematical Modeling of Liquid-Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2003 .

[67]  A. K. Shukla,et al.  A liquid-feed solid polymer electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell operating at near-ambient conditions , 1998 .

[68]  W. M. Taama,et al.  The impact of mass transport and methanol crossover on the direct methanol fuel cell , 1999 .

[69]  Sangkyun Kang,et al.  Mass Balance in a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 2007 .

[70]  Emanuel Peled,et al.  Water-neutral micro direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for portable applications , 2003 .

[71]  Il Moon,et al.  Three-dimensional, two-phase, CFD model for the design of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2006 .

[72]  Keith Scott,et al.  A Numerical Model of a Liquid-Feed Solid Polymer Electrolyte DMFC and Its Experimental Validation , 2003 .

[73]  S. Srinivasan,et al.  International activities in DMFC R&D: status of technologies and potential applications , 2004 .

[74]  Wenpeng Liu,et al.  Three-Dimensional Simulations of Liquid Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2007 .

[75]  Anders Oedegaard,et al.  Characterisation of direct methanol fuel cells under near-ambient conditions , 2006 .

[76]  Roland Zengerle,et al.  Increasing μDMFC efficiency by passive CO2 bubble removal and discontinuous operation , 2006 .

[77]  S. Hayase,et al.  Targeting improved DMFC performance , 2002 .

[78]  Peter Urban,et al.  Characterization of direct methanol fuel cells by ac impedance spectroscopy , 1998 .

[79]  Wenming Yang,et al.  Effect of current-collector structure on performance of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

[80]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  Electrochemical and flow characterization of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2004 .

[81]  Electrochemical Reactions in a DMFC under Open-Circuit Conditions , 2005 .

[82]  Suresh G. Advani,et al.  Metal foams as flow field and gas diffusion layer in direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[83]  Kai Sundmacher,et al.  Rigorous dynamic model of a direct methanol fuel cell based on Maxwell–Stefan mass transport equations and a Flory–Huggins activity model: Formulation and experimental validation , 2005 .

[84]  Yongping Chen,et al.  Study on water transport in PEM of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

[85]  T. Zhao,et al.  Pd and Pd-Cu Alloy Deposited Nafion Membranes for Reduction of Methanol Crossover in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2005 .

[86]  I. Hsing,et al.  Influence of anode diffusion layer on the performance of a liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell by AC impedance spectroscopy , 2006 .

[87]  Xiang Zhang,et al.  A micro methanol fuel cell operating at near room temperature , 2003 .

[88]  Qiang Ye,et al.  The role of under-rib convection in mass transport of methanol through the serpentine flow field and its neighboring porous layer in a DMFC , 2006 .

[89]  A. Manthiram,et al.  Multilayered membranes with suppressed fuel crossover for direct methanol fuel cells , 2004 .

[90]  Peter Lund,et al.  The Pore Structure of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Electrodes , 2005 .

[91]  Klaus Wippermann,et al.  Bifunctional activation of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

[92]  Shimshon Gottesfeld,et al.  Electro‐osmotic Drag of Water in Ionomeric Membranes New Measurements Employing a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 1997 .

[93]  James Larminie,et al.  Fuel Cell Systems Explained , 2000 .

[94]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  An In Situ Method for Determination of Current Distribution in PEM Fuel Cells Applied to a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 2003 .

[95]  Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem,et al.  DMFC employing a porous plate for an efficient operation at high methanol concentrations , 2006 .

[96]  Brant A. Peppley,et al.  The effect of anode flow characteristics and temperature on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2001 .

[97]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  Effect of anode flow field design on the performance of liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells , 2005 .

[98]  G. J. Hwang,et al.  An experimental study of laminar heat transfer in a one-porous-wall square duct with suction flow , 1997 .

[99]  S. Yao,et al.  Development of a silicon-based wettability controlled membrane for microscale direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[100]  A. K. Shukla,et al.  The design and construction of high-performance direct methanol fuel cells. 1. Liquid-feed systems , 1997 .

[101]  Qiang Ye,et al.  Pressure drop behavior in the anode flow field of liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells , 2005 .

[102]  Chao-Yang Wang,et al.  Fundamental models for fuel cell engineering. , 2004, Chemical reviews.

[103]  A. Prasad,et al.  Methanol diffusion rates through the anode diffusion layer in direct methanol fuel cells from limiting current measurements , 2008 .

[104]  Klaus Wippermann,et al.  DMFC: Galvanic or electrolytic cell? , 2006 .

[105]  Kai Sundmacher,et al.  Direct methanol polymer electrolyte fuel cell : analysis of charge and mass transfer in the vapour-liquid-solid system , 1999 .

[106]  G. Lu,et al.  Two-phase Microfluidics, Heat And MassTransport In Direct Methanol Fuel Cells , 2005 .

[107]  Addition of non-reacting gases to the anode flow field of DMFCs leading to improved performance , 2004 .

[108]  Angelika Heinzel,et al.  A review of the state-of-the-art of the methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells , 1999 .

[109]  Rong Chen,et al.  Analysis of Mass Transport of Methanol at the Anode of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 2006 .

[110]  Shimshon Gottesfeld,et al.  Water and Methanol Uptakes in Nafion Membranes and Membrane Effects on Direct Methanol Cell Performance , 2000 .

[111]  A. Faghri,et al.  A transient, multi-phase and multi-component model of a new passive DMFC , 2006 .

[112]  Nobuyoshi Nakagawa,et al.  Performance of a direct methanol fuel cell operated at atmospheric pressure , 2003 .

[113]  Kai Sundmacher,et al.  A model for the liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell , 1999 .

[114]  Amir Faghri,et al.  Development of planar air breathing direct methanol fuel cell stacks , 2006 .

[115]  Jiujun Zhang,et al.  A review of polymer electrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[116]  Jeremy P. Meyers,et al.  Simulation of the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell I. Thermodynamic Framework for a Multicomponent Membrane , 2002 .

[117]  Yang Liu,et al.  Power characteristics and fluid transfer in 40 W direct methanol fuel cell stack , 2007 .

[118]  Qin Xin,et al.  Comparative studies of configurations and preparation methods for direct methanol fuel cell electrodes , 2007 .

[119]  K. Sundmacher,et al.  Systematic analysis of the direct methanol fuel cell , 2006 .

[120]  Christian Hentschel,et al.  Characterisation of a portable DMFC stack and a methanol-feeding concept , 2006 .

[121]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  Three-dimensional two-phase mass transport model for direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[122]  D. Chu,et al.  Comparative Studies of Methanol Crossover and Cell Performance for a DMFC , 2004 .

[123]  Y. Sung,et al.  New RuO2 and carbon–RuO2 composite diffusion layer for use in direct methanol fuel cells , 2002 .

[124]  Tianshou Zhao,et al.  A new flow field design for polymer electrolyte-based fuel cells , 2007 .

[125]  Fuqiang Liu,et al.  On mass transport in an air‐breathing DMFC stack , 2005 .

[126]  Kai Sundmacher,et al.  Limiting current behaviour of the direct methanol fuel cell , 1999 .

[127]  Jeremy P. Meyers,et al.  Simulation of the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell II. Modeling and Data Analysis of Transport and Kinetic Phenomena , 2002 .

[128]  Jian Zhang,et al.  The influence of anode gas diffusion layer on the performance of low-temperature DMFC , 2007 .

[129]  Qiang Liao,et al.  Visualization study on the dynamics of CO2 bubbles in anode channels and performance of a DMFC , 2007 .