The effect of operation and design parameters on the performance of the direct methanol fuel cell

Technical Report · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/460314· OSTI ID:460314

Simpson, S. F.; Cisar, A.; Franaszczuk, K. ^[1]

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1. Lynntech, Inc., College Station, TX (United States); and others

Fuel cell technology continues to receive considerable attention as a potential replacement for fossil fuels as a primary source of terrestrial power. Ideally, such power systems would operate at relatively low temperatures (< 100{degrees}C) which suggests strongly the use of cell technology based upon the proton exchange membrane (PEM). Without question, hydrogen is a very desirable fuel choice for these types of systems, because of its high energy density. However, the difficulties associated with the production and routine handling of hydrogen limit severely its commercial use at present. The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a particularly attractive alternative to the use of the hydrogen/oxygen cell. Although not as high as hydrogen, the energy density of methanol is the highest among the organic fuels. Furthermore, because of the similarity in liquid handling requirements between methanol and gasoline, a significant portion of the infrastructure necessary for the marketing and distribution of the fuel is already in place. Other inherent attributes of the DMFC which include rapid start-up and operation with little or no emission or noise signature have led to an intense DMFC research effort over the past twenty years and, indeed, the DMFC has even been referred to as {open_quotes}the electrochemist`s dream{close_quotes}.

• Research Organization: Fuel Cell Seminar Organizing Committee (United States)
• OSTI ID: 460314
• Report Number(s): CONF-961107--Absts.; ON: TI97001494
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS
CURRENT DENSITY
ENERGY DENSITY
MARKETING
METHANOL
PERFORMANCE
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
POWER SYSTEMS