The performance analysis of a portable charger system using Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

This paper discusses the design of a portable charger which uses a printed circuit based (PCB) Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) as a power source. The charger consists of three DMFC modules, one pump, one fuel tank and a DC-DC voltage converter. The power output was controlled under 5 volts via parallel connection USB ports. The DMFC charger served simultaneously as the power source for a cell phone charger, the a cycling pump for operating the DMFC, one LED light, and one MP3 player with a pair of speakers. To evaluate the reliability and efficiency of the DMFC power source, a data acquisition (DAQ) system connected to a real-time monitor assessed the current output from the DMFC system running under different fuel flow rates with different power levels. The results provide important information for the control algorithm to obtain fuel flow rate control in the DMFC system with increased reliability and efficiency in the present portable charger system with PCB-based DMFCs.