Model of the flow with bubbles in the anode channel and performance of a direct methanol fuel cell

Simple model of the flow with gaseous bubbles in the anode channel of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is developed. The model predicts significant decrease of cell performance in the regime with intensive formation of bubbles. Physically, the bubbles accelerate the flow and increase the gradient of time-average local methanol concentration along the anode channel, which dramatically diminishes limiting current density of the cell. The model indicates large potential for improvement of DMFC performance by proper “bubbles management” in the anodic flow field.