Today methanol fuel cells produce only limited power so they can t power vehicles but they are ideal for consumer goods e g.
Direct methanol fuel cell advantages and disadvantages.
Now we are looking at the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells to see if they would be useful in other vehicles or situations.
Low efficiency because methanol can pass through the available membrane materials.
In contrast to indirect methanol fuel cells where methanol is reacted to hydrogen by steam reforming dmfcs use a methanol solution usually around 1m i e.
Advantages of direct methanol fuel cell.
It poses a number of advantages such as a liquid fuel quick refueling low cost of methanol and the compact cell design making it suitable for various potential applications including stationary.
Common operating temperatures are in the range 50 120 c where high temperatures are usually pressurized dmfcs themselves are more efficient at high temperatures and.
First it has a lower density than any other fuel compare liquid hydrogen s 70 8 g per liter with gasoline s 770 grams per liter so you need huge tanks to haul it around in.
Hydrogen is very difficult to deal with.
Methanol is very toxic and highly flammable.
Methanol is made from non renewable fossil fuels.
List of the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells.
It must offer significant benefits as it has not only inspired the development of a type of fuel cell dedicated to its use the direct methanol fuel cell dmfc but is also becoming increasingly popular.
Direct methanol fuel cell dmfc is considered as a highly promising power source.
About 3 in mass to carry the reactant into the cell.
By way of comparison.
It offers an effective method of energy storage.