Small PEMFC System with Multi-layered Microreactor

抄録

A small proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system with a multi-layered microreactor, which was newly developed to provide H₂ for PEMFC, was prototyped as a power source for mobile electric applications. The microreactor was designed using the simulation of chemical reaction and thermal transfer to obtain the sufficient H₂ production rate and a suitable temperature distribution for methanol reforming under the assumption of the microreactor was operated in a vacuum package to improve the system efficiency. The microreactor has four units: a methanol reformer with a catalytic combustor, a CO remover, and two vaporizers, and it was constructed of thirteen glass substrates. The small PEMFC has two humidifiers, which were composed of a hollow fiber module and a water holder. This system generated an output of approximately 2.5W at 200mA/cm² with sufficiently low heat loss. The sizes of the microreactor and the small PEMFC make this system suitable to apply as a power source for mobile devices.