Progress and Perspectives in Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Operating with Concentrated Methanol

Naveen K. Shrivastavaa*, Shashikant B. Thombreb**, Kailas L. Wasewar***
* Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, India.
** Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, India.
*** Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, India.
Periodicity:February - April'2012
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.7.3.1795

Abstract

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) directly converts the chemical energy stored in methanol to electricity. DMFCs have received considerable attention as a new power source for electric portable devices because of their high theoretical energy densities. In particular, passive DMFCs can provide a higher energy density then active one, since they do not need pumps for fuel feeding and blowers for air breathing. However, the actual energy density of the passive DMFCs under development is still far from that expected because of the methanol crossover (MCO) and the high overvoltage at the electrode. Due to the MCO, the passive DMFCs usually show the highest performance at low concentrations of methanol about 5M under passive conditions and that’s why diluted methanol (3M-5M) is used in the fuel cartridge. Filling the fuel reservoir with a low-methanol concentration means that the specific energy of the fuel cell system is low, which not only leads to a short operation time for each fuel charge, but also results in a rapid decrease in the pre-set methanol concentration in the fuel reservoir. Hence, filling in the fuel reservoir with a high-methanol concentration is desired, as it increases the volumetric energy density and discharging time of the DMFC system. This paper focuses on the progress and current status of research in the passive DMFCs fed with concentrated methanol. The paper reviews more than 40 journal and conference papers in this area and will be very useful to the researchers working in this direction.

Keywords

Direct methanol fuel cell, passive, concentrated methanol, review

How to Cite this Article?

Shrivastava, N. K. , Thombre , S. B. and Wasewar, K. L. (2012). Progress And Perspectives In Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Operating With Concentrated Methanol. i-manager’s Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 7(3), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.7.3.1795

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