scholarly journals Thermal Layout Analysis and Design of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells on PCB Based on Novel Particle Swarm Optimization

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 641
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Yuan ◽  
Wenhui Chuai ◽  
Zhongming Guo ◽  
Zhaoyin Tu ◽  
Fanbo Kong

As a new energy technology, the fuel cell has developed rapidly, and its performance has been continuously improved. Fuel cell stacks composed of multiple single cells are gradually being used in portable electronic products. Since the performance of fuel cells cannot be optimal at room temperature, it is critical to research cell temperature characteristics and heat distributions in applications. In this paper, the effects of temperature and charge transfer coefficient and the relationship between exchange current density and output voltage were analyzed by the mathematical model of direct methanol fuel cells. Moreover, to optimize the thermal layout of the fuel cell stack in the printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, the idea of a fuel cell as a device was proposed innovatively, and the corresponding thermal optimization strategy was analyzed. A novel particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to detect the optimal layout of fuel cells of different specifications on the same substrate. The three-dimensional thermal simulation model was used to obtain the temperature data and verify the optimization results.

Author(s):  
Jason C. Ganley ◽  
Nana K. Karikari ◽  
Dharmaraj Raghavan

This paper reports the results of fuel cell performance tests detailing the effects of Ni/Al layered double hydroxide (Ni-LDH) on the performance of alkaline direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). It is desirable to enhance the maximum rate of methanol consumption at a fuel cell’s anode so that expensive bimetallic catalysts (such as Pt-Ru) would not be as essential to remedy the well-known sluggish kinetics and Pt catalyst deactivation tendencies of DMFCs. The test cells were constructed using partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol film membranes impregnated with a 10 M potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The cells were tested at a constant temperature of 40°C, and the effect of the addition of Ni-LDH to the membrane surface was studied by comparison of fuel cell polarization and power production curves of cells with Pt or Pt-Ru anodes paired with Pt cathodes. The benefits of Ni-LDH addition to DMFCs are clearly shown vis-à-vis the extended operating current densities and associated increases in power density for each catalyst type. The enhancement effect of Ni-LDH appears largely as enhancement of cell mass transport. Cells constructed with Pt anodes and membrane surfaces modified by Ni-LDH perform very nearly as well as Ni-LDH-free cells using bimetallic Pt-Ru anodes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 673-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Iojoiu ◽  
Jean-Yves Sanchez

This paper is a review that is focused on ionomers based on aromatic polysulfone backbone and intended to be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells or in direct methanol fuel cells. Emphasis is placed on the different chemical routes to prepare the ionomers. Special attention is given to the impact of the ionomer structure on the conductivity performance and on the dimensional stability of the membranes at high temperatures.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (46) ◽  
pp. 19914-19919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Cao ◽  
Hui Zhuang ◽  
Mengwei Guo ◽  
Hongning Wang ◽  
Juan Xu ◽  
...  

Mesoporous graphenes were synthesized via a template-assisted pyrolysis approach and used as a material for a porous diffusion layer in direct methanol fuel cells.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Tominaka ◽  
Tetsuya Osaka

PdCo alloy is a promising catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction of direct methanol fuel cells because of its high activity and the tolerance to methanol. We have applied this catalyst in order to realize on-chip fuel cell which is a membraneless design. The novel design made the fuel cells to be flexible and integratable with other microdevices. Here, we summarize our recent research on the synthesis of nanostructured PdCo catalyst by electrochemical methods, which enable us to deposit the alloy onto microelectrodes of the on-chip fuel cells. First, the electrodeposition of PdCo is discussed in detail, and then, dealloying for introducing nanopores into the electrodeposits is described. Finally, electrochemical response and activities are fully discussed.


RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 2314-2322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mochammad Purwanto ◽  
Lukman Atmaja ◽  
Mohamad Azuwa Mohamed ◽  
M. T. Salleh ◽  
Juhana Jaafar ◽  
...  

A composite membrane was fabricated from biopolymer chitosan and montmorillonite (MMT) filler as an alternative membrane electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) application.


Author(s):  
Yousef Alyousef ◽  
Shi-chune Yao

To ensure the Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) achieve a high power density, it is necessary to use high concentration methanol in the storage. However, it is still necessary to supply the needed water in the PEM process. Thus, it becomes necessary to preserve the water from losing at the cathode side. In this exploration, hydrophobic Teflon membrane, with micro-size pores, is applied at the outside of the cathode to prevent water exits to the air stream but still allowing the oxygen to diffuse through. Gold film is sputtered at the inner face of the Teflon membrane to provide electric conductivity. Water tests indicate that this membrane is able to hold significant pressure and allowing the water to be pushed back through PEM to the anode. This modified cathode has been assembled into a micro fuel cell. Electrochemical tests indicated that this fuel cell operates well at various temperatures. Compare with a same fuel cell but using carbon paper instead, it appears that the sputtered gold film has the potential to provide sufficient conductivity. Although the water preservation capability has not been fully validated due to the present micro-scale measurement limitation, this exploration has indicated a promising method to improve the energy density of micro-DMFC.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Glüsen ◽  
Martin Müller ◽  
Detlef Stolten

Manufacturing of catalyst layers is one of the key processing steps in making membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The catalyst ink, which usually contains catalysts, ionomers, solvents, and additives, is generally applied to the substrate by a wet-coating technique. Established coating techniques which are used for manufacturing catalyst layers for fuel cells are knife-coating, screen-printing, and spraying. Slot-die coating is also an established coating technique, but not currently used for making fuel cell electrodes. For each coating technique the properties of the catalyst layer will depend on the properties of the coating technique and the properties of the substrate. Also each coating technique requires the catalyst ink to be adjusted to its specific rheological requirements. In this study, slot-die coating is developed as a new method for the continuous manufacture of catalyst layers for direct methanol fuel cells. The rheological demands for a homogeneous layer thickness are studied with model inks and a suitable catalyst ink is prepared. With this ink, decal electrodes are fabricated and CCM-type MEAs are made. Fuel cell tests show that the performance of the slot-die coated electrodes is comparable to electrodes made by knife-coating.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 654-668
Author(s):  
Muge Civelekoglu-Odabas ◽  
Ipek Becerik

Background: Direct methanol fuel cells as a clean and efficient energy conversion method for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles are a very popular subject in science and engineering. Up to now, the most effective anode electrode materials for direct methanol fuel cells are Pt- Ru, used mainly as bimetallic catalysts dispersed on a highly active conductive support, such as conducting polymer, carbon-based catalysts, or a composite matrix composed of both. Objective: The main objective is to decrease the amount of precious metal-Pt required for financial considerations and to overcome the insufficient oxidation reactions’ rate of the fuel, which lead to the inevitable, naturally high, overpotential in fuel cell applications. Thereby, current research addresses the preparation of Pt, Pt-Ru, Pt-Ru-Pd and Pt-Ru-Mo metal nanoparticles modified by both polyaniline-multi-wall carbon nanotubes and polianiline-functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes composites and their activity in the methanol electro-oxidation. Methods: All of the composite surfaces were successfully prepared using electrochemical methodologies. A Citrate method was used for the preparation of metal nanoparticles. A comparative study was conducted on each stage of the investigation. The modified surfaces were characterized and analyzed by SEM, EDX, XRD, Raman, and TEM. Results: According to the spectroscopic measurements, all particles synthesized were detected as nanoscale. Binary and ternary catalysts supported on composite surfaces had higher activity and efficiency when compared to monometallic systems. Conclusion: The fabricated electrodes showed comparable catalytic activity, long-term stability, and productivity towards direct methanol fuel cell applications in acidic media.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Naveen K. Shrivastavaa ◽  
◽  
Shashikant B. Thombreb ◽  
Kailas L. Wasewar ◽  
◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document