An integral mathematical model of liquid feed passive DMFCs with non-isothermal effects and charge conservation phenomenon

Passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are quite attractive for a wide variety of portable applications but the commercialization of the passive DMFCs is hindered due to lack of knowledge regarding the behaviour of various design parameters. Therefore, a simple numerical model is required to understand the complex processes involved in passive DMFCs. In this study; a steady state, one dimensional, non isothermal model is presented to simulate the operation of liquid feed passive DMFC. The model is analyzed considering the heat and mass transfer effects, along with the phenomenon of electrochemical reactions to predict molar concentration of various species, temperature profiles, and losses due to methanol and water crossovers. The model also considers the mixed potential and methanol concentrations profile across the cathode catalyst layer (CCL). In addition, the overpotential profile across the CCL is predicted with different current densities utilizing the charge conservation in the CCL. This extension serves to illustrate the comprehensiveness and elegance with which a simple 1-D model can be employed to predict the performance and design aspects of practical significance for passive DMFC. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.