Alcohol Not For Drinking: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Tony Tong November 23, 2004 CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries Oregon State University
Alcohol Not For Drinking:
Direct Methanol Fuel CellsTony Tong
November 23, 2004CH 407H: The Science and Technology of Batteries
Oregon State University
What are DMFC’s?Uses methanol, a cheap and safe fuelNo reformer neededOperable at room temperaturesDTI Energy, Inc. holds exclusive
worldwide licensing rights
How DMFC’s work
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Source: DTI Energy, Inc.
Applications of DMFC’s Can be adapted to power almost anything
Transportation Residential power Industrial power Landfills/wastewater
Mobile electronics in near future Work underway to miniaturize Will initially supplement batteries Cartridges will be sold to replenish fuel ($2-3?) Laptops: 5 hrs (high-drain) now, 40 hr DMFC in
development
Advantages & BenefitsLonger usage vs. batteriesLightweight / scalableNo need to rechargeCleaner than IC enginesLiquid fuel can be pumped from gas
stationsQuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Source: Toshiba
Disadvantages & ProblemsHigh cost
Platinum/ruthenium catalystLow currentLow power density“Methanol crossover”Water byproduct
Damage to electronicsDamage to environment
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Disadvantages & ProblemsNeed for standards
Cartridge specsCartridge delivery
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Fujitsu Toshiba
NEC
SolutionsUse water byproduct in fuel or hold in cartridgePorous silicon, PolyFuel membraneNi-Sn catalystH2O2 as oxidant - underwater applicationsRefill while in use - infinite mobile powerDirect Borohydride Fuel Cells (DBFC’s)
Safer form of H2, releases 8 e-
Higher current, smaller size vs. DMFC’s
SummaryDMFC’s have the ability to replace most
power suppliesMore efficient, environmentally-friendlyCheaper catalysts neededHigher power output neededStandardization
References PCWorld.com InfoWorld.com Toshiba.co.jp Neahpower.com DTIEnergy.com PolyFuel.com www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jfagan/sumdmfc2.html www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2003/Jun30.html merit.hydrogen.co.jp/R&D/R&D_Main.html