The effect of operating conditions on the dynamic response of the direct methanol fuel cell

A study of the effect of operating conditions; methanol solution concentration, methanol solution flow rate and air pressure on the voltage response of a small-scale direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), under a range of variable current loads is reported. An object of this work is to investigate the transient response of the DMFC used for transportation applications. The dynamic performance of the DMFC is affected by complex interactions of electrode kinetics and mass transport processes. The cell responds rapidly, and reversibly, to changes in magnitude of load and rate of change of load. Variations in response are due to many phenomena, with methanol crossover from anode to cathode a significant factor.

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