Process engineering of the direct methanol fuel cell

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) model has been developed and experimenta lly verified, with which fundamental calculations of the DMFC were carried out. Modelling comprises the mass transport of the gases in the diffusion l ayers and catalyst layers, mass transport in the membrane, as well as the r eaction and the potential distribution in the catalyst layers. The performa nce of the fuel cell is adversely influenced by methanol permeation from th e anode to the cathode. Moreover, the formation of a mixed potential is pos sible both at the anode and cathode and has a large negative effect on the energetic performance of the fuel cell. The model provides information conc erning the impact of methanol permeation through the membrane on energy and mass yield, and on the influence of the operating and structural parameter s. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.