Modeling of dynamic operating behaviors in a liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell

A transient, two-dimensional two-phase mass transport model is applied to investigate the cell dynamic operating behaviors of a liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The influences of various processes on the cell dynamics in response to sudden change of cell current density, methanol feed concentration, oxygen feed concentration, and the transient gas-slug blocking in the anode channel are studied. The results reveal that in response to the sudden drop of cell current density and methanol concentration, the cell voltage exhibits overshooting behavior as a result of the interaction between cathode and anode overpotentials with different time responses. The dominant factor causing the long response of cell voltages is the methanol rebalance in the membrane electrode assembly, which usually takes tens of seconds because of the sluggish methanol transport process. Also, it is indicated that in response to temporary blocking of anode diffusion layer surface with gas slug, the cell can still operate normally for a while because the anode diffusion layer serves as the fuel reservoir. It takes over a minute for the cell to break down in this case studied, implying that the cell output can be maintained stable if the gas bubbles or slugs in the anode channel can be removed quickly. However, too long residence time of gas slug in the channel definitely degrades the cell performance.

► Cell dynamic operating behaviors of a direct methanol fuel are modeled. ► Influences of various transient processes on the cell dynamics are studied. ► Voltage overshoot is due to different time responses of electrode potentials. ► Long response of cell voltages is mainly due to the sluggish methanol transport.