An innovative method of modeling direct methanol fuel cells

In this paper a computer model of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) developed with the use of HYSYS software was presented. Chemical reactions of methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction were executed in HYSYS software which eliminated the need of creating a complex electrochemical model of these reactions. Obtained resutls were used for determining maximum cell voltage and limiting current density of the investigated fuel cell. An equivalent electrical circuit served for calculating cell voltage after taking ohmic losses and methanol crossover losses into account. A simulation of polarization curve for a cell supplied with 0.5 mol/dm 3 methanol and pure oxygen operating at 70 C was performed and validated with experimental data. The e ects of cathode gas humiditication and methanol concentration change in the range of 0.5 mol/dm 3 –3 mol/dm 3 on cell performance were investigated. Di culties with detremining methanol oxidation rate and methanol crossover loss correctly enfrorced the use of experimental data thus greatly limiting the range of model’s applicability. Challenges encountered during direct methanol fuel cell modeling were described.