Abstract
Fuel cells are important devices for the transition to renewable energy technology. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices, meaning they transform the chemical energy stored in fuel into electrical energy. Many fuels used in fuel cells come from renewable sources and have low emissions, resulting in high power generation with minimal environmental impact. The many applications of fuel cells include but are not limited to, use in transportation for cars, trucks, shipping, and planes and stationary power generation. In the lab, I utilized low-temperature direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), a type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell with methanol used as the fuel. Over the semester, the goal of my independent study was to optimize the peak power density of the fuel cell as a proxy for performance by changing multiple design variables and testing. Many of these variables included vapor feed flow rate and many different aspects of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) construction. In this process, I, along with master’s degree candidate Ryan Spragg and Ph.D. candidate Guilherme Maia, determined the optimal feed flow rate for vapor phase methanol fuel and optimal use of water management layers (WMLs).
Document Type
Final Report
Class Name
Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study
Date of Submission
12-19-2023
Recommended Citation
Bailen, Daniel, "Methods for Optimization on Direct Methanol Fuel Cells to Increase Peak Power Density" (2023). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 245.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/245