Definition of Fuel Cell :
An electrochemical device used to convert the chemical energy into electrical energy from a fuel through a continuous chemical reaction with an oxidizing agents like oxygen without combustion is called fuel cell. The commonly used fuel in fuel cell are hydrogen, Alcohols(methanol) and hydrocarbons(natural gas).Fuel cells are unlike batteries, the distinction is that a
battery stores energy and fuel cells require delivered fuel that is used to
generate energy.
Types of Fuel Cells :
There are many subcategories of fuel cells which include alkaline, solid oxide,phosphoric
acid, metal-air, molten carbonate and the proton
exchange membrane.
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell :
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell is a subset of
the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Methanol is used as fuel in DMFC. The main advantage of using methanol as fuel is its ease of transport as it is liquid and it has high energy density along with good stability. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells provide high power for specific time but with low efficiency.
Applications of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell :
- Portable power appplications : Laptops,cellular phones. pagers, video recorders, portable power tools, low power remote devices such as hearing aids, smoke detectors, burglar alarms, hotel locks and meter readers.
- Residential applications : Installed as a grid-independent generator for on-site service in areas that are inaccessible by power lines. As inverter at homes to power electronic consumer goods.
- Stationary applications : Used as primary or back-up power providers in utility power plants, hospitals, hotels, schools, office buildings, nursing homes,and airport terminals etc. Also used as UPS and APU devices.
- Transportation applications :Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology is being incorporated into scooters, buses, trains, on a faster time line.Major automotive manufacturers have a fuel cell vehicle either in development or in testing right now.
The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market is foreseeing a noticable growth in recent years due to environmental sustaintability and owing to methanol's advantages over other fuels such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons.
The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market is segmented on the basis of following criterion :
By Application (In terms of Unit Shipments):
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| Source : MarketsandMarkets |
By Geography (In terms of Unit Shipments) :
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| Source: MarketsandMarkets |
The DMFC market is one the most promising market since late 2010 and it has increased to double digit growth in recent years. The DMFC market revenue is expected to reach worth $109 million by 2016. Asia is current leading market in terms of unit shipments followed by North America and Europe. The DMFC unit shipments is growing at compound annual growth rate of 45.3% since 2011.
For more details, follow the link below :
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