DMFC Power System Enhanced by Pulsed Control

Mesoscopic Devices proposes to develop a direct methanol fuel cell system using pulsed control technology. Our approach allows operation of the system at higher current densities while maintaining a high cell voltage relative to the equilibrium potential. The combination of our already high performing direct methanol fuel cell systems with the addition of pulsed control will improve overall system efficiency without additional balance of plant components. The simplicity of the pulse control implementation will result in a direct methanol fuel cell system that is smaller in size, weight and cost than a conventional system without the pulsed control. Furthermore, the lifetime stability of the system may also improve due to the pulsed control technology. In Phase I, the feasibility of the approach will be demonstrated and the advantages quantified in an analytical system model compared to the state-of-art direct methanol fuel cell system under steady state control.