Application perspectives for dissolved-fuel cells

Advances made in recent years in the field of fuel cells indicate that the latter will probably be used on an industrial scale in the relatively near future.

The following report tries to define the economic outlook for dissolved-fuel (principally methanol and hydrazine) cells on the basis of the experimental findings obtained in the research and development laboratories of the Institut Français du Pétrole [1–5].

The search for large markets for cells results in the consideration of electric vehicle traction as an objective capable of justifying the extensive research and development which have been undertaken. For ease of storage and handling, liquid fuels must be used. After hydrocarbons, not considered at present because of their low reactivity, methanol offers advantageous economic characteristics for this kind of utilization.

The following report contains a brief description of these cells, their composition, and the fuels which can be used as well as a study of performances and costs over various periods of time. We have attempted to confirm the abovementioned expectation about electric traction and to set forth various application possibilities by estimating corresponding outlet potentials and by determining the means of research needed to achieve them.