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Alcohol Not For Drinking: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Alcohol Not For Drinking: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells. Tony Tong November 23, 2004 CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries Oregon State University. What are DMFC’s?. Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuel No reformer needed Operable at room temperatures

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Alcohol Not For Drinking: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

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  1. Alcohol Not For Drinking:Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Tony Tong November 23, 2004 CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries Oregon State University

  2. What are DMFC’s? • Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuel • No reformer needed • Operable at room temperatures • DTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights

  3. How DMFC’s work Source: DTI Energy, Inc.

  4. Applications of DMFC’s • Can be adapted to power almost anything • Transportation • Residential power • Industrial power • Landfills/wastewater • Mobile electronics in near future • Work underway to miniaturize • Will initially supplement batteries • Cartridges will be sold to replenish fuel ($2-3?) • Laptops: 5 hrs (high-drain) now, 40 hr DMFC in development

  5. Advantages & Benefits • Longer usage vs. batteries • Lightweight / scalable • No need to recharge • Cleaner than IC engines • Liquid fuel can be pumped from gas stations Source: Toshiba

  6. Disadvantages & Problems • High cost • Platinum/ruthenium catalyst • Low current • Low power density • “Methanol crossover” • Water byproduct • Damage to electronics • Damage to environment

  7. Disadvantages & Problems • Need for standards • Cartridge specs • Cartridge delivery NEC Fujitsu Toshiba

  8. Solutions • Use water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridge • Porous silicon, PolyFuel membrane • Ni-Sn catalyst • H2O2 as oxidant - underwater applications • Refill while in use - infinite mobile power • Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC’s) • Safer form of H2, releases 8 e- • Higher current, smaller size vs. DMFC’s

  9. Summary • DMFC’s have the ability to replace most power supplies • More efficient, environmentally-friendly • Cheaper catalysts needed • Higher power output needed • Standardization

  10. References • PCWorld.com • InfoWorld.com • Toshiba.co.jp • Neahpower.com • DTIEnergy.com • PolyFuel.com • www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jfagan/sumdmfc2.html • www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2003/Jun30.html • merit.hydrogen.co.jp/R&D/R&D_Main.html

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