Design and fabrication of a magnetic fluid micropump for applications in direct methanol fuel cells

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are widely considered to have great potential for portable electric applications, and the power requirements for many of them are only a few watts. Therefore, a low power liquid pump is especially desirable for driving the methanol solution fuel for an active direct methanol fuel. The main objective of this paper is to design and fabricate a magnetic fluid micropump that has characteristics of low operation voltage and current and is suitable for use in DMFCs. Two prototypes were developed and tested. The magnetic fluid micropumps are successfully applied to drive the fuel to a DMFC, and measurements of the cell performance are also conducted.

► The main objective of this paper is to develop a type of magnetic fluid micropump to be applied in direct methanol fuel cells. ► The main characteristic of the magnetic fluid micropump developed is that it has very low power consumption in the range of dozens of milliwatts. ► The operation voltage is 0.7–1.2 V when the operating current is about 0.02–0.04 A. ► Two prototypes are designed, fabricated and tested. ► The MF micropumps were successfully demonstrated for applications in pumping the anode fuel of a DMFC.