Development and demonstration of advanced technologies for direct electrochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons (methanol, methane, propane)

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:6865853

Kosek, J A; LaConti, A B

Direct methanol fuel cells use methanol directly as a fuel, rather than the reformate typically required by fuel cells, thus eliminating the reformer and fuel processing train. In this program, Giner, Inc. advanced development of two types of direct methanol fuel cells for military applications. Advancements in direct methanol proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (DMPEMFC) technology included developement of a Pt-Ru anode catalyst and an associated electrode structure which provided some of the highest DMPEMFC performance reported to date. Scale-up from a laboratory-scale single cell to a 5-cell stack of practical area, providing over 100 W of power, was also demonstrated. Stable stack performance was achieved in over 300 hours of daily on/off cycling. Direct methanol aqueous carbonate fuel cells were also advanced with development of an anode catalyst and successful operation at decreased pressure. Improved materials for the cell separator/matrix and the hardware were also identified.

• Research Organization: Giner, Inc., Waltham, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6865853
• Report Number(s): AD-A-285094/9/XAB; CNN: DAAL03-92-C-0011
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300502* -- Fuel Cells-- Performance & Testing
300503 -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
FUEL CELLS
HYDROCARBON FUEL CELLS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
METHANE
METHANOL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PROPANE