The detailed dynamic characteristics of direct methanol fuel cells need to be known if they are used for transportable power sources. The dynamic response of a direct methanol fuel cell to variable loading conditions, the effect of cell temperature and oxygen flow rate on the cell response, and the cell response to continuously varying cell temperatures were examined experimentally. The results revealed that the cell responds rapidly to variable current cycles and to continuously varying cell temperatures. The increasing rate of gradual loading significantly influences the dynamic behavior. The effects of cell temperature and oxygen flow rate on the cell dynamic responses are considerable, but the cell voltage differences over the range of cell temperatures and oxygen flow rates are small for gradual loading. The cell response value to cell temperature during decreasing temperature is lower than that during increasing temperature.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
fuel cells, oxygen, dynamic response, liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell, dynamic characteristics, operating conditions, continuously varying temperature
Topics:
Cycles, Direct methanol fuel cells, Dynamic response, Oxygen, Temperature, Stress, Flow (Dynamics)
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