Experimental improvement of the performance of the open cathode-direct methanol fuel cell stack by magnetic field effect

Abstract

Open Cathode Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (OC-DMFC) stack performance is achieved at different methanol temperatures (25, 40, 55 and 70 °C), methanol concentrations (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 M) and air flow rates (3.5, 4.8 and 6.4 m/s). Each parameter, whose performance was tested separately, was presented by making comparisons within itself. The effect of performance changes on peak power densities under relatively low electromagnetic fields (4.7, 12.4, 28 and 35 mT) was investigated by exposing the 10-cell OC-DMFC stack to a magnetic field with the help of ferritic magnets. Ferritic magnets placed on the OC-DMFC stack anode and cathode surfaces, It is designed to create an electromagnetic field. Thus, the magnetic field affected both surfaces. When the magnetic field was 35 mT, the OC-DMFC reached a power density of 17.5 mW cm−2. When the DMFC stack is exposed to the magnetic field, its performance is increased by ∼16%.