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A self-supported 40W direct methanol fuel cell system

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Abstract

A self-supported 40W Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) system has been developed and performance tested. The auxiliaries in the DMFC system comprise a methanol sensor, a liquid-level indicator, and fuel and air pumps that consume a total power of about 5 W. The system has a 15-cell DMFC stack with active electrode-area of 45 cm2. The self-supported DMFC system addresses issues related to water recovery from the cathode exhaust, and maintains a constant methanol-feed concentration with thermal management in the system. Pure methanol and water from cathode exhaust are pumped to the methanol-mixing tank where the liquid level is monitored and controlled with the help of a liquid-level indicator. During the operation, methanol concentration in the feed solution at the stack outlet is monitored using a methanol sensor, and pure methanol is added to restore the desired methanol concentration in the feed tank by adding the product water from the cathode exhaust. The feed-rate requirements of fuel and oxidant are designed for the stack capacity of 40 W. The self-supported DMFC system is ideally suited for various defense and civil applications and, in particular, for charging the storage batteries.

A self-supported 40W Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) system comprising a 15-cell DMFC stack with active electrode-area of 45 cm2 has been developed and performance tested. The auxiliaries in the system comprise a methanol sensor, a liquid-level indicator, and fuel and air pumps that consume a total power of about 5W.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Madras Unit, CSIR Complex, Chennai, 600 113, India

    A MANOKARAN, R VIJAYAKUMAR, T N THOMMAN, P SRIDHAR & S PITCHUMANI

  2. Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560 012, India

    A K SHUKLA

Authors
  1. A MANOKARAN
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  2. R VIJAYAKUMAR
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  3. T N THOMMAN
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  4. P SRIDHAR
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  5. S PITCHUMANI
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  6. A K SHUKLA
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Correspondence to A K SHUKLA.

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MANOKARAN, A., VIJAYAKUMAR, R., THOMMAN, T.N. et al. A self-supported 40W direct methanol fuel cell system. J Chem Sci 123, 343–347 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-011-0075-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-011-0075-6

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