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DMFC Basics
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices in which electricity is produced when fuel (anode electrode) and oxidant (cathode electrode) are supplied. Other by-products such as water and heat may also be produced.
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) can produce electricity directly from methanol diluted in water. This type of fuel cell is a subset of PEM fuel cells, and are primarily targeted towards small scale technologies (smaller than 1,000 W) with relatively low operating temperatures in the range of 60 to 90 degrees Celsius. The low-temperature oxidation of methanol requires a more active catalyst with a larger quantity of expensive platinum (Pt). DMFCs are becoming more attractive when size and weight are important, as in the case of portable devices used in military operations as well as in other civilian applications (laptop computers, cellular phones, toys, etc.). Methanol is also easy to transport and store, requiring infrastructure similar to gasoline, which is currently available.
In contrast, it is projected that hydrogen production, storage and distribution systems may require relatively high investments in infrastructure, hindering implementations in the near future.
Our Research Program
Our research aims to increase the of power-output afforded by a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) by reducing methanol cross-over, through implementation of a flowing-electrolyte (or FE-DMFC). Our research group, comprises of Ph.D, M.A.Sc, and B.Eng Professionals and students, in consortium with Hybrid Energy Technologies Inc. Currently we are in the process of developing a unit cell FE-DMFC, while simultaneously creating a numerical simulation of a DMFC unit cell.
Situated in Ottawa Ontario, the capital of Canada, Carleton University is currently in construction of a new world-class fuel cell research and development facility. It is the goal of the research team to devise a novel new increased-output flowing electrolyte DMFC, as well as to develop new, lightweight low-output DMFC. In the near future, we hope to develop an FE-DMFC stack, as both a numerical model and a working prototype.
Please feel free to Contact Us with any questions you may have about the FE-DMFC project, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program at Carleton University, or with any other questions you may have.
