IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v131y2019icp563-584.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali
  • Allagui, Anis
  • Sayed, Enas Taha
  • El Haj Assad, M.
  • Said, Zafar
  • Elsaid, Khaled

Abstract

Passive direct methanol fuel cells (pDMFCs) have several advantages such as high theoretical energy density, quick refueling and environmentally safe. However, methanol crossover (MCO) is one of the major challenges to the commercialization of pDMFCs. Significant progress has been achieved over the last few years in controlling MCO through different approaches, such as applying porous plate, pervaporative membranes, and so forth. These methods are mainly based on supplying methanol to the anode surface in vapor phase. Thus, two types of pDMFCs are available: low methanol concentration (liquid-feed pDMFC) and high methanol concentration (vapor-feed pDMFC). The methanol and water transports are different in these two types of cells. Moreover, under low operating temperature and at high methanol concentration (i.e., above 50 mol%) in the vapor-feed pDMFC, the possibility for chemical intermediate to form increases. Such intermediates not only decrease the efficiency of the cell but are also harmful for the health and the environment. The aim of this review is to highlight and clarify the differences between liquid and vapor-feed pDMFCs. Moreover, the mechanism of intermediates formation in vapor-feed pDMFC and the different approaches to controlling it are presented. Finally, we present recommendations for designing safe and high performance pDMFCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Allagui, Anis & Sayed, Enas Taha & El Haj Assad, M. & Said, Zafar & Elsaid, Khaled, 2019. "Comparative analysis of liquid versus vapor-feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 563-584.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:131:y:2019:i:c:p:563-584
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148118308528
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuan, Wei & Deng, Jun & Zhang, Zhaochun & Yang, Xiaojun & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Study on operational aspects of a passive direct methanol fuel cell incorporating an anodic methanol barrier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 640-648.
    2. Mallick, Ranjan K. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Shrivastava, Naveen K., 2016. "Vapor feed direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 51-74.
    3. Yuan, Wei & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Wang, Aoyu & Li, Zongtao & Tang, Yong, 2016. "Anode optimization based on gradient porous control medium for passive liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 71-79.
    4. Alipour Najmi, Ali & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Investigation of NaOH concentration effect in injected fuel on the performance of passive direct methanol alkaline fuel cell with modified cation exchange membrane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 589-599.
    5. Wang, Zhigang & Zhang, Xuelin & Nie, Li & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2014. "Elimination of water flooding of cathode current collector of micro passive direct methanol fuel cell by superhydrophilic surface treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 107-112.
    6. Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Xiaoqing & Zhang, Shiwei & Hu, Jinyi & Li, Zongtao & Tang, Yong, 2015. "Lightweight current collector based on printed-circuit-board technology and its structural effects on the passive air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 664-670.
    7. Kasmuri, N.H. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Abdullah, S.R.S. & Hasan, H.A. & Som, A.Md., 2017. "Process system engineering aspect of bio-alcohol fuel production from biomass via pyrolysis: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 914-923.
    8. Wang, Yun & Chen, Ken S. & Mishler, Jeffrey & Cho, Sung Chan & Adroher, Xavier Cordobes, 2011. "A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 981-1007, April.
    9. Ghaebi, Hadi & Parikhani, Towhid & Rostamzadeh, Hadi, 2018. "A novel trigeneration system using geothermal heat source and liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery: Energy, exergy and exergoeconomic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 513-527.
    10. Deng, Huichao & Zhang, Yufeng & Zheng, Xue & Li, Yang & Zhang, Xuelin & Liu, Xiaowei, 2015. "A CNT (carbon nanotube) paper as cathode gas diffusion electrode for water management of passive μ-DMFC (micro-direct methanol fuel cell) with highly concentrated methanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 236-241.
    11. Xue, Rui & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "A novel cathode gas diffusion layer for water management of passive μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 535-541.
    12. Hsieh, Shou-Shing & Ho, Chin-Chu & Hung, Ling-Ching, 2016. "Performance tests of a double-passive μDMFC stack with parallel/dendrite flow field," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 28-37.
    13. Riccardo Balzarotti & Saverio Latorrata & Paola Gallo Stampino & Cinzia Cristiani & Giovanni Dotelli, 2015. "Development and Characterization of Non-Conventional Micro-Porous Layers for PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-14, July.
    14. Falcão, D.S. & Oliveira, V.B. & Rangel, C.M. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2014. "Review on micro-direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-70.
    15. Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    16. Daud, W.R.W. & Rosli, R.E. & Majlan, E.H. & Hamid, S.A.A. & Mohamed, R. & Husaini, T., 2017. "PEM fuel cell system control: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 620-638.
    17. Wang, Luwen & He, Mingyan & Hu, Yue & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei & Wang, Gaofeng, 2015. "A “4-cell” modular passive DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) stack for portable applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 229-235.
    18. Zainoodin, A.M. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Masdar, M.S. & Daud, W.R.W. & Mohamad, A.B. & Sahari, J., 2014. "High power direct methanol fuel cell with a porous carbon nanofiber anode layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 946-954.
    19. Sudaroli, B. Mullai & Kolar, Ajit Kumar, 2016. "An experimental study on the effect of membrane thickness and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading on methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 204-214.
    20. Benipal, Neeva & Qi, Ji & Gentile, Jacob C. & Li, Wenzhen, 2017. "Direct glycerol fuel cell with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin film separator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 647-655.
    21. Liu, Guicheng & Ding, Xianan & Zhou, Hongwei & Chen, Ming & Wang, Manxiang & Zhao, Zhenxuan & Yin, Zhuang & Wang, Xindong, 2015. "Structure optimization of cathode microporous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 396-401.
    22. Muthumeenal, A. & Neelakandan, S. & Kanagaraj, P. & Nagendran, A., 2016. "Synthesis and properties of novel proton exchange membranes based on sulfonated polyethersulfone and N-phthaloyl chitosan blends for DMFC applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 922-929.
    23. Uma Devi, A. & Muthumeenal, A. & Sabarathinam, R.M. & Nagendran, A., 2017. "Fabrication and electrochemical properties of SPVdF-co-HFP/SPES blend proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(PA), pages 258-265.
    24. Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Zhaochun & Hu, Jinyi & Zhou, Bo & Tang, Yong, 2014. "Passive vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell using sintered porous metals to realize high-concentration operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 143-149.
    25. Lee, Chi-Yuan & Chiang, Yu-Chun & Weng, Fang-Bor & Li, Shih-Chun & Wu, Pai-Hsuan & Yueh, Heng-I., 2017. "Flexible micro temperature, voltage and current sensors for local real-time microscopic diagnosis inside high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 126-131.
    26. Munjewar, Seema S. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Mallick, Ranjan K., 2017. "Approaches to overcome the barrier issues of passive direct methanol fuel cell – Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1087-1104.
    27. Herr, Nathalie & Nicod, Jean-Marc & Varnier, Christophe & Jardin, Louise & Sorrentino, Antonella & Hissel, Daniel & Péra, Marie-Cécile, 2017. "Decision process to manage useful life of multi-stacks fuel cell systems under service constraint," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 590-600.
    28. Wang, Luwen & Yuan, Zhaoxia & Wen, Fei & Cheng, Yuhua & Zhang, Yufeng & Wang, Gaofeng, 2018. "A bipolar passive DMFC stack for portable applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 587-593.
    29. Phillips, V.D. & Kinoshita, C.M. & Neill, D.R. & Takahashi, P.K., 1990. "Thermochemical production of methanol from biomass in Hawaii," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 167-175.
    30. Kuan, Yean-Der & Lee, Shi-Min & Sung, Min-Feng, 2009. "Experimental study on the characterization of airflow effect on the direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1962-1968.
    31. Gao, Y. & Sun, G.Q. & Wang, S.L. & Zhu, S., 2010. "Carbon nanotubes based gas diffusion layers in direct methanol fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 1455-1459.
    32. Prodromidis, George N. & Coutelieris, Frank A., 2017. "Thermodynamic analysis of biogas fed solid oxide fuel cell power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 1-10.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mohammed, Hanin & Al-Othman, Amani & Nancarrow, Paul & Tawalbeh, Muhammad & El Haj Assad, Mamdouh, 2019. "Direct hydrocarbon fuel cells: A promising technology for improving energy efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 207-219.
    2. Enas Taha Sayed & Hussain Alawadhi & Khaled Elsaid & A. G. Olabi & Maryam Adel Almakrani & Shaikha Tamim Bin Tamim & Ghada H. M. Alafranji & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2020. "A Carbon-Cloth Anode Electroplated with Iron Nanostructure for Microbial Fuel Cell Operated with Real Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Nassef, Ahmed M. & Fathy, Ahmed & Sayed, Enas Taha & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Rezk, Hegazy & Tanveer, Waqas Hassan & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Maximizing SOFC performance through optimal parameters identification by modern optimization algorithms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 458-464.
    4. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Tanveer, Waqas Hassan & Sayed, Enas Taha & Assad, M. El Haj & Allagui, Anis & Cha, S.W., 2019. "On the technical challenges affecting the performance of direct internal reforming biogas solid oxide fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 361-375.
    5. Tanveer, Waqas Hassan & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Kolosz, Ben W. & Rezk, Hegazy & Andresen, John & Cha, Suk Won & Sayed, Enas Taha, 2021. "The role of vacuum based technologies in solid oxide fuel cell development to utilize industrial waste carbon for power production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    6. Olabi, A.G. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Sayed, Enas Taha, 2021. "Application of graphene in energy storage device – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    7. A.G. Olabi & Tabbi Wilberforce & Enas Taha Sayed & Khaled Elsaid & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2020. "Prospects of Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Rezk, Hegazy & Sayed, Enas Taha & Al-Dhaifallah, Mujahed & Obaid, M. & El-Sayed, Abou Hashema M. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Fuel cell as an effective energy storage in reverse osmosis desalination plant powered by photovoltaic system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 423-433.
    9. Sayed, Enas Taha & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Alawadhi, Hussain & Elsaid, Khaled & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Olabi, A.G., 2021. "Graphitic carbon nitride/carbon brush composite as a novel anode for yeast-based microbial fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    10. Ouyang, Tiancheng & Chen, Jingxian & Liu, Wenjun & Xu, Peihang & Lu, Jie & Zhao, Zhongkai, 2022. "A comprehensive evaluation for microfluidic fuel cells from anti-vibration viewpoint using phase field theory," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 676-693.
    11. Olabi, A.G. & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2021. "Fuel cell application in the automotive industry and future perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    12. Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Sayed, Enas Taha & Nakagawa, Nobuyoshi, 2020. "Significance of diffusion layers on the performance of liquid and vapor feed passive direct methanol fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    13. Zhang, Rongji & Cao, Jiamu & Wang, Weiqi & Zhou, Jing & Chen, Junyu & Chen, Liang & Chen, Weiping & Zhang, Yufeng, 2023. "An improved strategy of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell: Mass transport mechanism optimization dominated by a single hydrophilic layer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Xueye & Li, Tiechuan & Shen, Jienan & Hu, Zengliang, 2017. "From structures, packaging to application: A system-level review for micro direct methanol fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 669-678.
    2. Calabriso, Andrea & Borello, Domenico & Romano, Giovanni Paolo & Cedola, Luca & Del Zotto, Luca & Santori, Simone Giovanni, 2017. "Bubbly flow mapping in the anode channel of a direct methanol fuel cell via PIV investigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1245-1255.
    3. Li, Yang & Zhang, Xuelin & Yuan, Weijian & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2018. "A novel CO2 gas removal design for a micro passive direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 599-607.
    4. Alipour Najmi, Ali & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Study of physicochemical characterization of potassium-doped Nafion117 membrane and performance evaluation of air-breathing fuel cell in different alkali-methanol solutions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1090-1098.
    5. Munjewar, Seema S. & Thombre, Shashikant B. & Mallick, Ranjan K., 2017. "Approaches to overcome the barrier issues of passive direct methanol fuel cell – Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1087-1104.
    6. Liu, Guicheng & Li, Xinyang & Wang, Hui & Liu, Xiuying & Chen, Ming & Woo, Jae Young & Kim, Ji Young & Wang, Xindong & Lee, Joong Kee, 2017. "Design of 3-electrode system for in situ monitoring direct methanol fuel cells during long-time running test at high temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 163-168.
    7. Alipour Najmi, Ali & Rowshanzamir, Soosan & Parnian, Mohammad Javad, 2016. "Investigation of NaOH concentration effect in injected fuel on the performance of passive direct methanol alkaline fuel cell with modified cation exchange membrane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 589-599.
    8. Zhang, Rongji & Cao, Jiamu & Wang, Weiqi & Zhou, Jing & Chen, Junyu & Chen, Liang & Chen, Weiping & Zhang, Yufeng, 2023. "An improved strategy of passive micro direct methanol fuel cell: Mass transport mechanism optimization dominated by a single hydrophilic layer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    9. Braz, B.A. & Oliveira, V.B. & Pinto, A.M.F.R., 2020. "Optimization of a passive direct methanol fuel cell with different current collector materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    10. Zhang, Yufeng & Xue, Rui & Zhang, Xuelin & Song, Jiaying & Liu, Xiaowei, 2015. "rGO deposited in stainless steel fiber felt as mass transfer barrier layer for μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1081-1086.
    11. Xue, Rui & Zhang, Yufeng & Liu, Xiaowei, 2017. "A novel cathode gas diffusion layer for water management of passive μ-DMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 535-541.
    12. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Yan, Zhiguo & Tan, Zhenhao & Tang, Yong & Xia, Hongrong, 2016. "Visualization of two-phase flow and temperature characteristics of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell with diverse flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 85-98.
    13. Kim, Jaeyeon & Kim, Hyeok & Song, Hyeonjun & Kim, Dasol & Kim, Geon Hwi & Im, Dasom & Jeong, Youngjin & Park, Taehyun, 2021. "Carbon nanotube sheet as a microporous layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    14. Yan, X.H. & Zhao, T.S. & An, L. & Zhao, G. & Zeng, L., 2015. "A crack-free and super-hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer for direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 331-336.
    15. Lee, F.C. & Ismail, M.S. & Ingham, D.B. & Hughes, K.J. & Ma, L & Lyth, S.M. & Pourkashanian, M., 2022. "Alternative architectures and materials for PEMFC gas diffusion layers: A review and outlook," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    16. Fang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufeng & Ma, Zezhong & Sang, Shengtian & Liu, Xiaowei, 2016. "Systemic modeling and analysis of DMFC stack for behavior prediction in system-level application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1015-1023.
    17. Riccardo Balzarotti & Saverio Latorrata & Marco Mariani & Paola Gallo Stampino & Giovanni Dotelli, 2020. "Optimization of Perfluoropolyether-Based Gas Diffusion Media Preparation for PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, April.
    18. Yuan, Wei & Wang, Aoyu & Ye, Guangzhao & Pan, Baoyou & Tang, Kairui & Chen, Haimu, 2017. "Dynamic relationship between the CO2 gas bubble behavior and the pressure drop characteristics in the anode flow field of an active liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 431-443.
    19. Hu, Zunyan & Xu, Liangfei & Huang, Yiyuan & Li, Jianqiu & Ouyang, Minggao & Du, Xiaoli & Jiang, Hongliang, 2018. "Comprehensive analysis of galvanostatic charge method for fuel cell degradation diagnosis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1321-1332.
    20. Yang, Chii-Rong & Lu, Chang-Wei & Fu, Pin-Chi & Cheng, Chia & Chiou, Yuang-Cherng & Lee, Rong-Tsong & Tseng, Shih-Feng, 2020. "Performance evaluation of μDMFCs based on porous-silicon electrodes and methanol modification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:131:y:2019:i:c:p:563-584. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.