A thermal mass balance direct methanol fuel cell and its working method

Abstract

The invention discloses a thermal mass balance direct methanol fuel cell and its working method. In the thermal mass balance direct methanol fuel cell, the methanol and the product are transported separately, and the fuel cell as a whole forms a stable downstream transport in the overall process from liquid methanol inflow to carbon dioxide discharge. The flow path enables the fuel to enter the anode directly and evenly, which solves the problems of methanol and carbon dioxide mixing, insufficient methanol reaction, and uneven concentration of methanol vapor, which is more conducive to stable and efficient operation of the anode side reaction and improves battery efficiency; The pressure generated by the carbon dioxide generation process pushes liquid methanol into the fuel cell, reducing additional pump work; the waste heat generated in the reaction zone during battery operation is transferred to the methanol evaporation zone to assist methanol evaporation; the process of methanol evaporation and utilization is more efficient and energy-saving .

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, in particular to a heat-mass balance direct methanol fuel cell and a working method thereof. Background technique [0002] The direct methanol fuel cell has the advantages of simple structure, normal temperature operation, high system volume specific energy, convenient fuel storage and transportation, etc. It has a wide range of application prospects in the fields of communication, transportation and national defense. [0003] Anodic reaction to CH 3 OH+H 2 0→6H + +6e - +CO 2 [0004] Cathodic reaction is 3 / 2O 2 +6H + +6e - →3H 2 O [0005] The total battery reaction is CH 3 OH+3 / 2O 2 →2H 2 O+CO 2 [0006] At present, the research of direct methanol fuel cell mostly focuses on the field of using liquid methanol as fuel, but because the fuel supply of methanol fuel cell mostly needs to be mixed with water, which reduces the energy density of the fuel, and at the same time, there ...

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Problems solved by technology

[0006] At present, most of the research on direct methanol fuel cells is concentrated in the field of using liquid methanol as fuel, but because most of the fuel supply of methanol fuel cells needs to be mixed with water, this reduces the energy density of the fuel, and at the same time there is serious methanol in the process of operation. Penetration problem, while causing a lot of waste of raw materials, reduces the energy utilization rate and seriously weakens the performance of the battery, which brings great difficulties to the improvement of the performance of methanol fuel cells

[0007] Studies have shown that methanol participating in the fuel cell reaction in the form of vapor can reduce methanol breakthrough and further improve the utilization efficiency of methanol. However, the fuel supply method of the battery using methanol vapor as fuel is mostly in the form of evaporation film evaporation and heating by external heating equipment. Evaporation mode, in which the evaporation mode of the evaporation film makes the flow of methanol cannot be accurately controlled during use, which further affects the stable operation of the fuel cell, and the external heating device heating evaporation mode increases the extra power consumption of the battery operation, further reducing the battery life. Efficiency; the use of a fuel supply pump for liquid-phase methanol supply will also bring additional power consumption and further reduce battery efficiency

At the same time, during the working process of the battery using methanol vapor as fuel, there are often problems such as uneven distribution of methanol concentration on the anode side, insufficient methanol reaction, and difficulty in discharging carbon dioxide, which greatly affects the working efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0008] Therefore, in view of the aforementioned low efficiency, difficult distribution, and easy leakage of methanol fuel cells, a methanol fuel cell with high working efficiency, strong control precision, and no need for additional power consumption is urgently needed.

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