Vapor feed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs): A review

Mallick, Ranjan Kumar; Thombre, Shashikant B.; Shrivastava, Neeraj

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.11.039

Cited by 85 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 93 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Smaller pores lead to more uniform reactant distributions but higher hydraulic resistivity and water accumulation. Therefore, the optimal design satisfying the main performance criteria for the FCs (see section Introduction) is difficult for elaboration due to numerous disadvantages (Mallick et al, 2016;Yuan et al, 2016;Kahraman and Orhan, 2017;Ouellette et al, 2018). The flow resistance could be decreased by optimizing the porosity of materials.…”

Section: Porous Type Ffpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Field Patterns for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Flow field designs for the bipolar plates of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell are reviewed; including the serpentine, parallel, interdigitated, mesh type or their mixtures, furthermore 2D circular and 3D tubular geometries, porous, fractal, and biomimetic flow fields. The advantages/disadvantages and tendencies from field optimizations are discussed. The performance of each flow field design is compared to the conventional serpentine flow field. Good flow field plates give uniform gas distributions, low pressure drop for transport, and sufficient rib area to provide high electronic conductivity. A good field should also prevent water condensation, remove water efficiently, and provide sufficiently high moisture content in the membrane. The demands on design are sometimes contradictory. Future work should aim for a flow field geometry and topology that produces uniform gas delivery at a low pressure-drop, and at the same time has an optimal channel shape for better water removal. It is concluded that for an area-filling gas distributor, the developments should aim to find a flow field in accordance with minimum entropy production, making an emphasis on multi-criteria optimization methods.

show abstract

Section: Porous Type Ffpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Field Patterns for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) with polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) are already well developed and have achieved small scale commercialization. [6][7][8] Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) are more attractive for sustainable energy production. 9,10 However, although there have been a number of demonstration projects, 6,10 performances are not yet sufficient for commercialization.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinetics and Stoichiometry of Methanol and Ethanol Oxidation in Multi-Anode Proton Exchange Membrane Cells

Brueckner

Pickup

2017

J. Electrochem. Soc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The anode catalyst of a direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC) influences its energy efficiency through both its effect on the cell potential and the reaction stoichiometry (average number of electrons released per fuel molecule; n av ). A method for determining these parameters simultaneously from a polarization curve (current vs. cell potential) is reported and various catalysts have been evaluated in a multi-anode cell. The cell was operated in crossover mode, in which fuel flows though the cathode chamber and diffuses though the membrane to be oxidized at the anode, to provide controlled mass transport conditions. Tafel analysis at low potentials provides kinetic information, while currents at high potentials provide n av values and their potential dependence. The method allows a number of catalysts to be compared under the same conditions, and provides characteristic parameters that could be compared across research groups. It is shown that while PtRu alloy catalysts provide faster kinetics than Pt for both methanol of ethanol oxidation, Pt can provide much higher stoichiometries for ethanol oxidation. The value of this methodology for catalyst screening is demonstrated with mixed Pt/C + PtRu/C anodes which show a pronounced synergistic effect relative to the individual Pt/C and PtRu/C catalysts. Direct alcohol fuel cells are emerging technologies for power production from renewable fuels.1-5 Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) with polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) are already well developed and have achieved small scale commercialization.6-8 Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) are more attractive for sustainable energy production.9,10 However, although there have been a number of demonstration projects, 6,10 performances are not yet sufficient for commercialization.10 Ethylene glycol 11,12 and glycerol 13 are also being studied for use in fuel cells, but present more complex problems.There are many challenges that are impeding the development of DAFC technology. 1,7,10,14 Relative to hydrogen PEMFCs, which already have relatively large markets, DAFCs suffer from much larger anode overpotentials, efficiency and power loses due to fuel crossover, and incomplete oxidation of the fuel. The primary requirement for commercialization of ethanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol fuel cells is the development of anode catalysts that oxidize these fuels completely to carbon dioxide at low overpotentials.12,15-17 Better anode catalysts are also required for widespread implementation of DMFC technology. 18The importance of DAFC technology for a sustainable energy future based on clean and efficient use of renewable fuels has resulted in intensive studies of the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols and the development of thousands of different anode catalysts. Generally, these have been evaluated at ambient temperatures in liquid electrolytes by cyclic voltammetry and in many cases by chronoamperometry. Products have been analyzed in some cases by techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy 16,[19][20][21] and differential electrochemica...

show abstract

“…Zhu et al produced and equipped a novel CO2-driven fuel-feed device in a passive 8-cell DMFC twin-stack for long-term operation [129]. Kamarudin [3]. Radenahmad et al reviewed the application of proton-conducting electrolytes for direct methanol and direct urea fuel cells [134].…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro direct methanol fuel cell: functional components, supplies management, packaging technology and application

Chen

Zhang

Shen

et al. 2016

Int. J. Energy Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary This review reports the progress on the recent development of micro direct methanol fuel cell. Various functional components including micro flow field plate, membrane electrode assembly, proton exchange membrane, catalytic layer, diffusion layer, and collector are narrated and discussed. The supplies management and packaging technology are also illustrated and discussed. A variety of portable devices whose power is supplied by micro direct methanol fuel cell are analyzed and discussed. This paper will provide an expedient and valuable reference to those who intend to research micro direct methanol fuel cell. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Vapor feed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs): A review

Cited by 85 publications

References 93 publications

Flow Field Patterns for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Flow Field Patterns for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Kinetics and Stoichiometry of Methanol and Ethanol Oxidation in Multi-Anode Proton Exchange Membrane Cells

Micro direct methanol fuel cell: functional components, supplies management, packaging technology and application

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About