Investigation of the in-situ oxidation of methanol in fuel cells. Final report Jun 80-May 81

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5556193

Landsman, D A; Luczak, F J

Direct anodic oxidation and internal reforming were examined as ways of using methanol as fuel in a phosphoric acid fuel cell. The literature was reviewed to identify the most effective catalysts for the direct electrochemical oxidation of methanol. It was shown experimentally that, even with the best of these catalysts, anode polarization at practical current densities is 300 mV higher on methanol than on hydrogen. It was also found that unreacted methanol which diffuses across the cell can cause severe polarization of the cathode. Theoretical and experimental studies of internal reforming showed that a fuel cell will generate sufficient waste heat to sustain the methanol-steam reforming reaction. Thus, thermally-integrated, internal reforming is a feasible alternative to external reforming. The reforming catalyst is preferably located in separate chambers built into the stack, since this prevents phosphoric acid from attacking the reforming catalyst and methanol from migrating to the cathode. A 2-in. by 2-in. fuel cell, running on the gaseous product from a subscale reformer operating at 400 F, gave 0.624 volts at 200 ASF (85% methanol/50% air utilization). From the standpoint of efficiency, internal reforming is superior to direct oxidation.

• Research Organization: United Technologies Corp., South Windsor, CT (USA). Power Systems Div.
• OSTI ID: 5556193
• Report Number(s): AD-A-105947/6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
ALCOHOLS
ALKYL RADICALS
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
FUELS
GASES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
METHANOL
METHYL RADICALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
POLARIZATION
RADICALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS