METHACELL TECHNOLOGIES

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METHACELL TECHNOLOGIES
Erica Awai Mark Caskey Charles Erwing Daniel
Stolarski Yonas Tesfaye
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INTRODUCTION

• What is a fuel cell?
• How does ours work?
• What can you do with a fuel cell?
• What have we done?
• How can we improve our cell?
• Conclusion.

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What Is a Fuel Cell

• Harnesses potential difference of electrons in
  different molecules
• RedOx chemistry electrons doing work
• Theoretical efficiency of 100

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Many Types of Fuel Cells
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell

• Greatest specific energy but...

• BIG PROBLEMS!
• DIFFICULT TO STORE
• DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS
• EXPENSIVE TO HARNESS

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DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL
CH4 H2O ? CH3OH H2

• Easy to access
• Liquid at room temperature (bp 65 C)
• CH3OH 3/2 O2 --gt CO2 2H2O E1.119 V
• 3706 J/(molg)
• dH -719 KJ/mol

Click on picture to play or stop animation
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How It Works
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Mechanism of Operation

• Gold Plated electrode
• Platinum catalyst
• Platinum-Ruthenium Catalyst

• Methanol Container
• Graphite conductor
• Plastic spacers

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Critical Component

• Membrane Electrode assembly
• Permeable to protons
• Problematic
• Must be kept hydrated
• Permeable to methanol
• Sensitive to impurities
• Professor Hailes Research

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Experimentation for Optimization

• Methanol Concentration
• Methanol Pump modification
• Air Pump modification
• Load modification
• Temperature

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Effect of Concentration
Concentration has very little effect on Current
and voltage (short-term)
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VARIATION OF AIR PUMP POWER
Cell optimizes at very low pump power
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Variation of Methanol Pump
Increase in pump power has nearly no effect on
cell voltage
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Cell Efficiency
Efficiency drops as you do more work
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Power vs. Current
As you increase the current, power goes up.
Pumps at 6000 mW
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Importance of Efficiency

• Efficiency Theoretical
  Voltage/Expermiental Voltage
• High Power low efficiency bad
• Consumes excess fuel
• Excessive energy lost to heat
• Factors governing efficiancy
• Amount of surface catalyst
• Methanol leakage

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Dr. Sossina Hailes addition

• Voltage continues linearly
• Power has an optimum point

Graph courtesy of Cal Tech Material Science
Department
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IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED FOR FEASABILITY

• Become self-powering unit
• Increase power density
• Reduce size
• Decrease catalyst costs (Platinum)
• Improve Membrane

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Possible business uses

• Robotics
• Military
• Police/fire
• Cellular Phones
• Laptops
• Automotive