FUEL CELL

Electrochemical device which converts chemical

energy into electrical energy

 Invented by W.R.Groove, 1839

 Introduced the IEMs in FCs (1963, J.W.Niedrach)

Fuel cell type Op. Temp. Transported Membrane used Power density Fuel cell
(oC) ion mW/cm2 efficiency

Polymer electrolyte 50-80 H+ Polymeric membrane 350 45-60

membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)
Alkaline fuel cell (AFC) 60-90 OH- Aqueous alkaline 100-200 40-60
solution
Phosphoric acid fuel cell 150-200 H+ Molten phosphoric acid 200 55
(AFC)
Molten carbonate fuel cell 600-700 CO32- Molten alkaline 100 60-65
(MCFC) carbonate
Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 800-1000 O2- Ceramics 240 55-65
DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL
(DMFC)
 Sub-category of PEMFC

 Fuel at anode: Methanol ;

 Oxidant at cathode: Oxygen

 Membrane used: Proton exchange membrane (PEM)

 Operating temperature: 50-1200C

 Power density: 240 mW/cm2

 Fuel cell efficiency: ~60%

 Power output: 0.1 – 15W

 CONTD.....

Why methanol is preferred over hydrogen fuel ?

 Energy density: Methanol: 4.8 Wh/cm3

Hydrogen: 2.7 Wh/cm3
 Easy transportation and handling
 Readily available, relatively lesser cost
 Stable at all atmospheric conditions
 Direct-methanol fuel cells or DMFCs are a subcategory of proton-exchange fuel
cells in which methanol is used as the fuel.
 Their main advantage is the ease of transport of methanol, energy-dense yet
reasonably stable liquid at all environmental conditions.
 Efficiency is quite low for these cells, so they are targeted especially to portable
applications, where energy and power density are more important than efficiency.
 A more efficient version of a direct fuel cell would play a key role in the theoretical
use of methanol as a general energy transport medium, in the hypothesized methanol
economy*.
 (The methanol economy* is a suggested future economy in
which methanol and dimethyl ether replace fossil fuels as a means of energy storage,
ground transportation fuel, and raw material for synthetic hydrocarbons and their
products. It offers an alternative to the proposed hydrogen economy or ethanol
economy)
 DMFC relies upon the oxidation of methanol on a catalyst layer to form carbon
dioxide. Water is consumed at the anode and is produced at the cathode.
 Protons (H+) are transported across the proton exchange membrane - often made
from Nafion - to the cathode where they react with oxygen to produce water.
 Electrons are transported through an external circuit from anode to cathode,
providing power to connected devices.
 Methanol and water are adsorbed on a catalyst usually made
of platinum and ruthenium particles, and lose protons until carbon dioxide is formed.
As water is consumed at the anode in the reaction, pure methanol cannot be used
without provision of water via either passive transport such as
back diffusion (osmosis), or active transport such as pumping. The need for water
limits the energy density of the fuel.
 Platinum is used as a catalyst for both half-reactions.
 This contributes to the loss of cell voltage potential, as any methanol that is present
in the cathode chamber will oxidize.
 If another catalyst could be found for the reduction of oxygen, the problem of
methanol crossover would likely be significantly lessened.
 Furthermore, platinum is very expensive and contributes to the high cost per kilowatt
of these cells.
 ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTIONS
INVOLVED IN DMFC

Anodic reaction(Oxidation): 0.03 V

CH3OH + H2O CO2 + 6H + + 6e-

Cathodic reaction (Reduction): 1.22 V

3/2 O2 + 6H+ + 6e- 3H2O

Overall reaction: 1.19 V

CH3OH + 3/2 O2 CO2 + 2H2O
APPLICATIONS OF DMFC
 All kinds of portable, automotive and mobile applications like,
 Powering laptop, computers, cellular phones, digital cameras
 Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs)
 Spacecraft applications
 Any consumables which require long lasting power compare to Li-ion batteries
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP FOR DMFC