Direct methanol fuel cells for transportation

The author´s progress made in the key areas for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) development for transport applications is discussed. A large-scale prototype DMFC stack has been built (25 cells of 270 cm² active area per cell, nominal power output 500 W) based on a flow bed design developed by the author with the aid of a flow visualisation study and fluid flow modelling. In addition, a series of engineering models were developed for predicting stack voltage, the fluid distribution from the stack manifolds, the overall system pressure, the chemical equilibrium in both anode and cathode flow beds and the thermal management of the stack. Steady state and dynamic electrical performance of the prototype stack is presented. Experience from scaling up the system, and the problems that had to be solved prior achieving the designed power output, are also briefly discussed