1D modeling of a flowing electrolyte-direct methanol fuel cell

In this study, the performance characteristics of a flowing electrolyte-direct methanol fuel cell (FE-DMFC) and a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) are evaluated by computer simulations; and results are compared to experimental data found in the literature. Simulations are carried out to assess the effects of the operating parameters on the output parameters; namely, methanol concentration distribution, cell voltage, power density, and electrical efficiency of the cell. The operating parameters studied include the electrolyte flow rate, flowing electrolyte channel thickness, and methanol concentration at the feed stream. In addition, the effect of the circulation of the flowing electrolyte channel outlet stream on the performance is discussed. The results show that the maximum power densities that could be achieved do not significantly differ between these two fuel cells; however the electrical efficiency could be increased by 57% when FE-DMFC is used instead of DMFC.

[1]  Alexey Serov,et al.  Review of non-platinum anode catalysts for DMFC and PEMFC application , 2009 .

[2]  Keith Scott,et al.  Performance and modelling of a direct methanol solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell , 1997 .

[3]  J. Besenhard,et al.  Innovative system designs for DMFC , 2006 .

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

[5]  I. Dincer,et al.  PORTABLE FUEL CELLS - FUNDAMENTALS, TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS , 2008 .

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

[7]  Hongtan Liu,et al.  A three-dimensional mathematical model for liquid-fed direct methanol fuel cells , 2006 .

[8]  V. Hacker,et al.  Direct methanol–air fuel cells with membranes plus circulating electrolyte , 2001 .

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

[10]  Hongtan Liu,et al.  A three-dimensional two-phase flow model for a liquid-fed direct methanol fuel cell , 2007 .

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

[12]  Alexandra M.F.R. Pinto,et al.  Heat and mass transfer effects in direct methanol fuel cell: 1D model , 2008 .

[13]  Siti Kartom Kamarudin,et al.  Overview on the application of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for portable electronic devices , 2009 .

[14]  Hongtan Liu,et al.  Experimental studies of a direct methanol fuel cell , 2005 .

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

[16]  J. Goldak,et al.  Modeling Methanol Crossover by Diffusion and Electro‐Osmosis in a Flowing Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 2005 .

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

[18]  H. E. Darling,et al.  Conductivity of Sulfuric Acid Solutions. , 1964 .

[19]  Chaoyang Wang.  Principles of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells for Portable and Micro Power , 2008 .

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

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

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

[23]  Chaoyang Wang.  Computational Modeling of Two-Phase Transport in Portable and Micro Fuel Cells , 2008 .

[24]  K. Cowey,et al.  Portable and military fuel cells , 2004 .

[25]  Electron transport in direct methanol fuel cells , 2007 .

[26]  Erik Kjeang,et al.  A Parametric Study of Methanol Crossover in a Flowing Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell , 2006 .