Methanol Sensor-Less Control Strategy for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Startup

It is critical and challenging to start direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) from various environmental states to an ideal operating state by a sensor-less method. This paper presents a novel methanol sensor-less startup control (SLSC) algorithm based on the unimodal relationship of current vs. methan...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haibo Gan, Hai Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Energy Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.827763/full
Description
Summary:It is critical and challenging to start direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) from various environmental states to an ideal operating state by a sensor-less method. This paper presents a novel methanol sensor-less startup control (SLSC) algorithm based on the unimodal relationship of current vs. methanol concentration at a constant cell voltage during DMFC startup. A series of experiments indicate that the SLSC algorithm is capable of starting a DMFC under various initial concentrations and initial temperatures and can be easily adjusted to reduce the startup time or improve the energy efficiency. The wide applicability and easy adjustment characteristics give the SLSC algorithm a potential prospect in the DMFC system.
ISSN:2296-598X