Renewable Energy, Vol.90, 28-37, 2016
Performance tests of a double-passive mu DMFC stack with parallel/dendrite flow field
We report an experimental study on the effect of different flow fields on the cell performance of a double-passive (both anode/cathode) mu DMFC stack. Cell performance measurements were made and analyzed for seven different flow field combinations at the anode/cathode of a passive micro direct methanol fuel cell (mu DMFC) stack. An optimum flow field combination, after taking a series of tests under different operating conditions, was obtained. The results show that the conventional parallel type flow field used at the anode with an innovative/new dendrite perforated type of 80 degrees flow field can provide the best power density for both single cell and 8-cell stack which have a power density of 16.9 mA/cm(2) at 50 degrees C and 1 M methanol solution. Moreover, for an 8-cell stack, both the gravimetric and volumetric power densities can be up to 7.4 W/kg and 37.2 W/L, respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.