Conceptual Design of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Powered by a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell to Enlarge Endurance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Villalba-Herreros ◽  
Teresa J. Leo ◽  
Ricardo Abad
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are versatile machines capable of more and more complex missions including the offshore industry. The ability to carry out some missions relies on the endurance the vehicle is provided with. In this sense, fuel cells are found to be very adequate devices to enlarge AUVs endurance because of the high energy density and specific energy they can achieve, but the application of fuel cell technology to AUVs faces specific challenges that need to be overcome. The present work describes the conceptual design process of a typical AUV powered by a direct methanol fuel cell. Methanol is a high available fuel and its handling system is simple. The obtained results indicate that the manufacturing of such a vehicle is possible within several constrains, being the carbon dioxide treatment system the most critical component of the energy plant. The projected vehicle is compared to current vehicles on the market showing the improved endurance.

Evaluation of the Performance Characteristics of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell With Multifuels

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujith Mohan ◽  
S. O. Bade Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Operating Temperature ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Transport Losses ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Direct methanol fuel cells are one of the alternate power sources for the field of power electronics because of their high energy density. The benefits of a fuel cell toward the environment can be greatly improved if the fuel used for its application comes from renewable sources. In this study, the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell was investigated under five different methanol concentrations. The effect of methanol concentration on the cell operating temperature is studied. Impedance spectroscopy was conducted to measure the ohmic, activation, and mass transport losses for all concentrations. The cell performance was evaluated using methane and ethanol fuels and this was compared with methanol operation.

Evaluation of the Performance Characteristics of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell With Multi Fuels

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujith Mohan ◽  
S. O. Bade Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Operating Temperature ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Transport Losses ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Direct methanol fuel cells are one of the alternate power sources for the field of power electronics because of their high energy density. The benefits of a fuel cell towards the environment can be greatly improved if the fuel used for its application comes from renewable sources. In this study, the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell was investigated under five different methanol concentrations. The effect of methanol concentration on the cell operating temperature is studied. Impedance spectroscopy was conducted to measure the ohmic, activation and mass transport losses for all concentrations. The cell performance was evaluated using methane and ethanol fuels and this was compared with methanol operation.

scholarly journals Analysis on Geometry of Fluid Flow Manifold in Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 822-827
Author(s):  
Govindarasu Ramasamy ◽  
R. Kavitha ◽  
M. Nambiraj ◽  
R. Praveen Kumaar ◽  
N. N. Harish Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
No Production ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are the devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. Direct Methanol Fuel cell (DMFC) is a proton exchange membrane fuel cells in which methanol is used as fuel. Its high energy density makes it suitable for fuel cells. Even though carbon dioxide is produced, there is no production of sulfur or nitrogen oxides. The problems usually occurred while working with DMFC are methanol crossover, condensation of methanol, water management and carbon dioxide release. In that the uneven flow distribution, accumulation of carbon dioxide bubbles in the fuel cell are the major issues in DMFC. To prevent these issues, this work focuses on the theoretical and experimental studies on development of fuel cells with special importance to geometry of the manifold. This paper provides the optimal solution for preventing uneven flow distribution that is the usage of squoval shaped manifold which is the combination of both square and circle. Performance of DMFC with squoval shape manifold is evaluated experimentally and is compared with square shape manifold and rectangle shape manifold geometry design.

The function of hydrophobic cathodic backing layers for high energy passive direct methanol fuel cell

2011 ◽  
Vol 196 (22) ◽  
pp. 9510-9515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Ligang Feng ◽  
Weiwei Cai ◽  
Changpeng Liu ◽  
Wei Xing
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

CO2 treatment in an autonomous underwater vehicle powered by a direct methanol fuel cell

2021 ◽  
pp. 501-507
Author(s):  
Antonio Villalba-Herreros ◽  
Rafael d’Amore-Domenech ◽  
Ricardo Abad ◽  
Teresa J. Leo ◽  
E. Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽  
Underwater Vehicle ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Co2 Treatment

scholarly journals Platinum utilization in proton exchange membrane fuel cell and direct methanol fuel cell - Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhavi Bandapati ◽  
Sanket Goel ◽  
Balaji Krishnamurthy
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Pt Utilization ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) are increasingly used as substitutes to conventional energy systems. Their compact design, high energy density and efficient energy-conversion offer several advantages over existing energy systems with potential for use in a variety of applications. However, performance, robustness and cost are the key challenges to overcome before fuel cells can be commercialized. Even though the use of platinum (Pt) and platinum group metal (PGM) alloy catalysts provide higher performance and durability, they are at the same time the largest cost components which need to be addressed. This paper reviews different approaches adopted to enhance Pt utilization such as reducing Pt loading, decreasing Pt particle size, developing Pt free metallic alloy catalyst, improving Pt dispersion, developing membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication methods, increasing mass-transport at the electrode surface and modifying the catalyst support materials. Finally, the performance optimization efforts for Pt utilization are summarized with insights into probable directions of future research in this area.

Performance Modeling of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Fueled With Methanol and Ethanol

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. Bade Shrestha ◽  
Sujith Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Transport Losses ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are becoming a choice of a power source in the field of power electronics, and portable devices because of their high energy density. The benefits of using a fuel cell toward the environment will be enhanced if the fuel used for its application comes from renewable sources such as ethanol. A method of modeling of the performance of DMFC was developed and validated with the experimental data obtained from a passive DMFC operated under varying methanol and ethanol concentrations. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to measure ohmic, activation and mass transport losses for all concentrations. Improved performance of the cell was observed when the concentrations of the solutions were closer to stoichiometric values. The model predicted results were compared to the corresponding experimental values and found satisfactory.

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