Tahereh Yazdanipour - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan ۹۸۱۶۴-۱۶۱, Iran
Rahbar Rahimi - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan ۹۸۱۶۴-۱۶۱, Iran

Use of almost inexpensive materials and generation of energy without pollution increases attractiveness of fuel cell. Usage of alcohols, especially methanol and ethanol as fuel, have removed limitation of hydrogen generation and its use in hydrogen fuel. Although the performance of methanol fuel is not high, since they work at low temperature ranges typically from 60 to 80°C, their commercial applications on portable devices have been reported. In this paper mathematical model of methanol PEM fuel cell has been obtained and the effect of concentration of methanol feed on open circuit voltage is investigated. The model is represented by a set of first order differential–algebraic equations (DAEs) including the kinetics of methanol oxidation which is described by a Butler–Volmer rate expression in terms of the liquid phase activities of the components in the catalyst layer. The model equations are solved by use of the twopoint implicit method. The method has also an adjustable parameter where the effect of this parameter on the stability of the solution has been investigated.

Fuel Cell; Methanol; Mathematical Modeling; Current–Voltage Characteristics