Electrochemical and gas evolution characteristics of direct methanol fuel cells with stainless steel mesh flow beds

Carbon dioxide gas management and bipolar plate (flow bed) design are impor tant to the development of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) systems. If the gas produced at the anode is not removed rapidly and efficiently a gradual deterioration in electrical performance can occur. This paper examines the feasibility of using stainless steel mesh materials as flow beds for the D MFC. A flow visualization study, using a high-speed video camera and approp riate computer software, of the anode side, carbon dioxide gas evolution an d flow behaviour with flow beds based on stainless steel mesh is reported. The electrochemical behaviour of the direct methanol fuel cell with stainle ss steel flow beds is also reported. A number of the flow bed designs, base d on stainless steel mesh, showed promising behaviour in terms of gas remov al characteristics and electrical performance.