Technical Report and Seminar (TRS)

Report on
“Study ofDirect Methanol Fuel Cell”

Session: 2019-20

Student Name:SomnathMaity Guide Name:

(3rd Semester, Section B, Roll No.:ME18085) Prof.Mohd. Hasan Akhtar

Department of Mechanical Engineering

S.B. Jain Institute of Technology, Management and Research
Nagpur.

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 Certificate

This is to certify that the student SOMNATH MAITYof 2 ndYear, 3rd Semester, Section Bbearing
Roll no ME18085 has completed his Technical Report and Seminar (TRS) on DMFC (Direct
Methanol Fuel Cell)under my guidance. The work is in agreement with the expected criteria as
per the University norms and is fit for evaluation.

Signature of Guide Signature of Head of Department

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 Abstract
DMFC is well known to be influenced by large numbers of parameters such as flow rate,
methanol concentration, operating temperatures, and anode and cathode pressures. In order to
improve the performance of the DMFC, it is necessary to determine the effects of various
parameters on the performance of the fuel cell.

Contents

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 Serial Content Page no.
No.

1. Introduction

2. Block diagram/actual diagram or figure

3. Operational features and characteristics

4. Relevant literature and findings

5. Significance and applications in current scenario

6. Comparison with other existing technologies

7. Advantages and limitations

8. Conclusions

9. Future scope

10. References

1. Introduction of Fuel cell

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 A fuel cell can be defined as an electrochemical cell that generates electrical energy from fuel via
an electrochemical reaction. These cells require a continuous input of fuel and an oxidizing agent
(generally oxygen) in order to sustain the reactions that generate the electricity. Therefore, these
cells can constantly generate electricity until the supply of fuel and oxygen is cut off.

Figure No. 01: Schematic diagram of fuel cell

Discovery

In 1839, the first fuel cell was conceived by Sir William Robert Grove, a Welsh judge, inventor,
and physicist in which hydrogen containing molecules and oxygen is being mixed in the
presence of an electrolyte and produced electricity and water.

Types of Fuel Cell

 Direct methanol fuel cells

 Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

 Alkaline fuel cells

 Phosphoric acid fuel cells

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 Molten carbonate fuel cells

 Solid oxide fuel cells

DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL

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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.

Construction:

A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell consists of a) Anode, b) Cathode, c) Polymer electrolyte

Membrane, d) Bipolar Plates, e) Supportive plates for fuel cell stack, f) Source of oxygen, g)
Methanol solution. The construction of the direct methanol fuel cell could be described in a
simple manner as follows: It consists of an anode-catalyst layer generally platinum-ruthenium
made, followed by the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) which acts as an electrolyte for the
fuel cell. The PEM generally used in the direct methanol fuel cell is Nafion which is a
perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. This is then followed by cathode-catalyst layer which is
generally platinum-carbon made. On the one side before anode-catalyst layer and on the other
side after cathode-catalyst layer there exist bipolar plates which are made up of graphite usually.
The function of these plates is to provide the fuel cell with the external electrical contact and as a
directional element for the reactants to the direct methanol fuel cell on cathode and anode side.
This complete arrangement is then fixed between two supportive plates generally made of
aluminum. This complete infrastructure then makes a single direct methanol fuel cell stack
assembly.

Working:

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is an electrochemical cell that generates electricity based
on the oxidation of methanol and reduction of oxygen. An aqueous methanol solution of low
morality acts as the reducing agent that traverses the anode flow field. Once inside the flow
channel, the aqueous solution diffuses through the backing layer, comprised of carbon cloth or
carbon paper. The backing layer collects the current generated by the oxidation of aqueous
methanol and transports it laterally to ribs in the current collector plate. The global oxidation
reaction occurring at the platinum ruthenium catalyst of the anode is given by:
CH3OH+H2O→CO2+6H++6e−

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The carbon dioxide generated from the oxidation reaction emerges from the anode backing
layer as bubbles and is removed via the flowing aqueous methanol solution.

Air is fed to the flow field on the cathode side. The oxygen in the air combines with the
electrons and protons at the platinum catalyst sites to form water. The reduction reaction taking
place on the cathode is given by:3/2O2+6H++6e−→3H2O3/2O2+6H++6e−→3H2O
These two electrochemical reactions are combined to form an overall cell reaction as:
CH3OH+3/2O2→CO2+2H2OCH3OH+3/2O2→CO2+2H2O

However, the DMFC has the advantages of easier fuel storage, no need for humidification, and
simpler design. Thus, DMFC is presently considered a leading contender for portable power
application. To compete with lithium-ion batteries, the first and foremost property of a portable
DMFC system must be higher energy density in Wh/L. This requirement entails overcoming
four key technical challenges: (1) low rate of methanol oxidation kinetics on the anode, (2)
methanol crossover through the polymer membrane, (3) water management, and (4) heat
management.

Recent development in DMFC:

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1) Make use of shorter side groups to strengthen the interchain macromolecular attractions to
increase the sulfonic acid group’s density.

2) Incorporation of water retaining additives such as nanoscale oxides.

3) Production of composite membrane materials. For very high temperature operations,

membranes manufactured with phosphoric acid treatment with polybenzimidazole polymer are
under test.

ADVANTAGES:

A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell offers a number of advantages, including:

1. Using a liquid fuel for power.

2. A simpler system design, with the potential for low-volume, lightweight packaging.
3. Eliminating the requirement for fuel reforming and/or onboard hydrogen storage.
4. Classification as a zero-emission power system.

LIMITATIONS:

When air flow rate is small: Under this condition it is observed that the direct methanol fuel
cell exhibits an unusual behavior. It is observed that the active area of the fuel cell splits into two
regions when the air flow rate is small. The region close to the inlet of oxygen channel operates
in the normal fuel cell mode (Galvanic mode) and the region close to the outlet of the oxygen
channel works in the electrolysis mode. The electrolysis of the methanol at the cathode side takes
place due to consumption of current in galvanic mode to form hydrogen. Thus the cell operates
in a bifunctional regime due to permeated methanol at the cathode side due to crossover. This
causes a great loss in the cell output.

Membrane preparation and selection: Majority of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel
cells (PEMFC‘s) are technically relevant on perfluoro sulfonic acid membranes called as Nafion.
These are generally obtained by polymerization of TFE (tetrafluoroethylene) in sulfonyl fluoride
form followed by hydrolization and acid treatment. The proton conductivity of these membranes

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is highest in the complete state of hydration of membrane. But as the degree of hydration is
reduced the proton conductivity is decreased and the crossover is increased. Membranes with
high proton conductivity and low solution transfer are an exclusive area of research. Membranes
withstanding high temperatures are also an area of research in this field.

• Crossover of methanol through membrane Anode potential losses due to lower activity of the
catalyst (using of Nafion-membrane) reduced lifetime. Cathode potential losses due to mixed
potential formation, reduces cell voltage, current density, fuel utilization, reduced performance-
Durability and stability

APPLICATIONS:

• Mobile Applications (easy to refuel)

•Possible applications: Stationary applications, automotive applications, Auxiliary power units

(APU), Medical devices, Energy supply for weather stations, Replacement for
batteries/accumulators (longer operating times)

REFRENCE:

https://byjus.com/chemistry/fuel-cell/

https://www.zsw-bw.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDFs/Vorlesungen/est3/WS_2017/Seminar-
Notes/DMFC.pdf

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2ac0/10f661d9cb9d8fad4c33b92403948646972d.pdf

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