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Durability and efficiency tests for direct methanol fuel cell's long-term performance assessment

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  • Yeh, Pulin
  • Chang, Chu Hsiang
  • Shih, Naichien
  • Yeh, Naichia

Abstract

This research assessed the long-term performance of direct methanol fuel cells. The experiment was performed at room temperature using 0.51 mol/L ∼0.651 mol/L methanol with a fuel consumption rate of 0.8 ± 0.1 cc/Wh at stack temperature of 60 °C–70 °C. DuPont Nafion115 proton exchange membrane was used as the base material of MEA (membrane electrode assembly), which is then examined via a series of processes that include IV curve test, humidity cycle test, load cycle test, and hydrogen penetration test. The study employs membrane modification and cell structure adjustment approaches to reduce the methanol crossover in the cathode and identify the cell performance effect of the carbon paper gas diffusion layer. The test results indicated an efficiency of 25% can be achieved with a three-piece MEA assembly. According to the durability test, the stack power-generation efficiency has maintained at 15%–25% level. With such efficiency, the stack voltage output has been able to stay above 7.8-V for over 5000 h. This result is in line with industry standard.

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  • Yeh, Pulin & Chang, Chu Hsiang & Shih, Naichien & Yeh, Naichia, 2016. "Durability and efficiency tests for direct methanol fuel cell's long-term performance assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 716-724.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:107:y:2016:i:c:p:716-724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.04.091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Fang, Shuo & Song, Nan & Liu, Yuntao & Zhou, Chaoyang & Zhao, Chunhui & Wang, Yun, 2023. "Oscillator design for high efficiency DC-DC of micro direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    8. Wang, Junye, 2017. "System integration, durability and reliability of fuel cells: Challenges and solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 460-479.
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    10. Kiyani, Roya & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Nitrogen doped graphene supported palladium-cobalt as a promising catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction: Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1162-1173.
    11. Hosseini, Mir Ghasem & Mahmoodi, Raana & Daneshvari-Esfahlan, Vahid, 2018. "Ni@Pd core-shell nanostructure supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as efficient anode nanocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells with membrane electrode assembly prepared by catalyst coated m," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1074-1084.
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