Design and testing of a water-methanol evaporator for integration in a methanol steam reforming-high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell system

This article explores the design and characterization of an evaporator intended for integration into a coupled system comprising the evaporator, methanol steam reformer (MSR), and a stack of two high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT PEMFC). The study addresses the challenges associated with pressure pulsations in the evaporator system, proposing a redesigned configuration featuring a modified geometry and porous material within the evaporator volume. Additionally, a novel experimental setup is proposed for accurate measurement of temperature profiles on the lower and upper sides of the evaporator. Experimental results demonstrate a significant reduction in pressure pulsations, validating the effectiveness of the design modifications. Optimal operational conditions for pulsation-free performance are identified at temperatures around 97–100 °C and flow rates within the range of 0.175–0.25 mL/min.