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Development of a micro direct methanol fuel cell with heat control

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  • Fang, Shuo
  • Zhang, Yufeng
  • Ma, Zezhong
  • Zou, Yuezhang
  • Liu, Xiaowei

Abstract

In this work, an active micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) system employing the catalytic combustor as the heating device is developed in order to maintain the optimum cell temperature and achieve the best cell performance. A passive feed method, combining both the saturator and the wick, is adopted to supply sufficient methanol into the micro combustor. The feasibility and the superiorities of the active μDMFC system are validated experimentally. The experimental results show that the combustor can start spontaneously and quickly at the ambient temperature of 298 K and the control unit can efficiently keep the cell temperature around the optimum value. The proposed active μDMFC system also performs much better than the conventional one at the ambient temperature of 298 K. Moreover, the performance and stability of the active μDMFC system at 298 K and the conventional one at 338 K are compared and analyzed respectively. The results verify that the active μDMFC system can real-time control the cell temperature and prevent overtemperature. Therefore, the active μDMFC system greatly increases the cell performance and stability. The active μDMFC system presented in this research also has great potential for portable applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Ma, Zezhong & Zou, Yuezhang & Liu, Xiaowei, 2016. "Development of a micro direct methanol fuel cell with heat control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(P1), pages 978-985.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:116:y:2016:i:p1:p:978-985
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Prapainainar, Paweena & Du, Zehui & Theampetch, Apichaya & Prapainainar, Chaiwat & Kongkachuichay, Paisan & Holmes, Stuart M., 2020. "Properties and DMFC performance of nafion/mordenite composite membrane fabricated by solution-casting method with different solvent ratio," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    2. 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).
    3. A. C. Gómez-Monsiváis & I. Velázquez-Hernández & L. Álvarez-Contreras & M. Guerra-Balcázar & L. G. Arriaga & N. Arjona & J. Ledesma-García, 2017. "In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Study of the Electrocatalytic Effect of PtFe/C Nanocatalyst on Ethanol Electro-Oxidation in Alkaline Medium," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Xue, Rui & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "A novel cathode gas diffusion layer for water management of passive μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 535-541.
    5. Eapen, Deepa Elizabeth & Suresh, Resmi & Patil, Sairaj & Rengaswamy, Raghunathan, 2021. "A systems engineering perspective on electrochemical energy technologies and a framework for application driven choice of technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    6. Zhou, Jing & Cao, Jiamu & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Junfeng & Chen, Junyu & Li, Mingxue & Wang, Weiqi & Liu, Xiaowei, 2021. "Overcoming undesired fuel crossover: Goals of methanol-resistant modification of polymer electrolyte membranes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    7. Yang, Chii-Rong & Lu, Chang-Wei & Fu, Pin-Chi & Cheng, Chia & Chiou, Yuang-Cherng & Lee, Rong-Tsong & Tseng, Shih-Feng, 2020. "Performance evaluation of μDMFCs based on porous-silicon electrodes and methanol modification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    8. Kotowicz, Janusz & Węcel, Daniel & Brzęczek, Mateusz, 2021. "Analysis of the work of a “renewable” methanol production installation based ON H2 from electrolysis and CO2 from power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).

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