A heat balance material separation direct methanol fuel cell and its working method

Abstract

The invention discloses a direct methanol fuel cell capable of realizing heat balance and material separation as well as a working method thereof. The direct methanol fuel cell is characterized in that methanol and a product are separately conveyed, a stable downstream transmission flow path is formed in the whole process of the fuel cell entirety from a moment that liquid-phase methanol flows through to a moment that carbon dioxide is discharged, the problems that methanol reaction is insufficient and methanol vapor concentration is nonuniform as methanol and carbon dioxide are mixed are solved, stable and efficient performance of a reaction at an anode side is better benefited, and cell efficiency is improved; extra heat produced in a fuel cell operation process is transmitted into a methanol evaporation region, and energy consumption is reduced while a fuel cell operating temperature is lowered; and a cell product carbon dioxide enters a pneumatic diaphragm pump under the action ofair pressure, a carbon dioxide flow divider valve drives the pneumatic diaphragm pump to stably convey the liquid phase methanol to the methanol evaporation region, and power is provided for the liquid phase methanol when entering the cell without extra power consumption.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, in particular to a heat balance material separation direct methanol fuel cell and a working method thereof. Background technique [0002] Direct methanol fuel cells are considered to be one of the most promising mobile power sources for electronic products due to their advantages such as simple structure, normal temperature operation, high system volume specific energy, and convenient fuel storage and transportation. Therefore, it has become a research hotspot of many scholars at home and abroad. The electrode and cell reactions of a direct methanol fuel cell are as follows: [0003] The anode reaction is CH 3 OH+H 2 0→6H + +6e - +CO 2 [0004] The cathode reaction is 3 / 2O 2 +6H + +6e - →3H 2 o [0005] The total reaction of the battery is CH 3 OH+3 / 2O 2 →2H 2 O+CO 2 [0006] At present, most of the research on direct methanol fuel cells is concentrated in the field of using l...

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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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