Title :
Direct methanol fuel cells-status, challenges and prospects
Author :
Narayanan, S.R. ; Valdez, T.I. ; Kindler, A. ; Witham, C. ; Surampudi, Sravan ; Frank, H.
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
The status of direct methanol fuel cell technology with respect to power density, efficiency and integrated system operation have been summarized. The key challenge in improving power density is combining with operation at low air flow rates in order to maintain a water balance, and achieve attractive system mass and size. Improved catalysts and membranes with low methanol permeability are key to achieving these improvements. Challenges relating to miniature DMFC for battery replacement are discussed. Possibilities of reduction in catalyst and membrane cost suggest that premium power applications (100 W-5 kW) could be an early point of entry for DMFC into commercial markets.
Keywords :
catalysts; membranes; proton exchange membrane fuel cells; 100 W to 5 kW; battery replacement; catalyst reduction; catalysts; direct methanol fuel cells; efficiency; integrated system operation; low air flow rates; low methanol permeability; membrane cost reduction; membranes; power density improvement; water balance; Anodes; Biomembranes; Costs; Fuel cells; Methanol; Permeability; Propulsion; Temperature dependence; Voltage; Water resources;
Conference_Titel :
Battery Conference on Applications and Advances, 2000. The Fifteenth Annual
Conference_Location :
Long Beach, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5924-0
DOI :
10.1109/BCAA.2000.838360
