Analytical model to relate DMFC material properties to optimum fuel efficiency and system size

► Analytic model of methanol concentration in the direct methanol fuel cell. ► Relates material properties to fuel efficiency and size of system components. ► Determines maximum efficiency across a dynamic current range. ► Forecasts system-level benefits of improvements in material properties. In the design of the direct methanol fuel cell and the evaluation of new materials and their appropriateness for inclusion, it is helpful to consider the impact of material properties on the performance of a complete system: to some degree, methanol crossover losses can be mitigated by proper system design. As such, an analytical model is developed to evaluate the methanol concentration profile across the anode backing layer and membrane of the direct methanol fuel cell. The model is integrated down the anode flow channel to determine fuel utilization as a function of the feed concentration, backing layer properties, and membrane properties. A minimum stoichiometric ratio is determined based on maintaining zero-order methanol kinetics, which allows the fuel efficiency to be optimized by controlling these physical properties. This analysis is then used to estimate the required flow rates and the size of system components such as the methanol storage tank, based on the minimum methanol flow rate that those components must produce to deliver a specified current; in this way, the system-level benefits of reduced membrane crossover can be evaluated.