Experimental Research And Mathematical Modeling Of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

Fuel cell is believed to be the most promising new energy conversion devices that convert chemical energy in fossil fuels into electricity. It is a highly efficient and environmentally clean source of power generation. MCFC (molten carbonate fuel ceil), which is one of two kinds of high temperature fuel cells, have been researched in most of countries.Our institute has introduced one set of MCFC single cell test-rig from TUDelft in Holland. The electrodes are made in ECN in Holland. The materials of anode, cathode, matrix are NiCr, NiO and LiAIO2. The electrolyte is Li2CO3/K2CO3 (mol ratio 62/38).Much work has been done to prompt the rapid establishment of fuel cell technology in China. With the help of the visiting scholar, P.J.van den Enden, the standard performance test of single MCFC has been done smoothly. In order to combine biomass gasification technology, we have checked the fuel cell's impurity tolerance level. The results show that traces of H2S can damage the fuel cell. But CO and Cm almost have no influence on the performance of the fuel cell. And this paper also forwarded one possible influential mechanism of H2S.Tow types of fuel-cell models can be distinguished: microscopic and macroscopic. This paper adopt agglomerate microscopic model to analyze the fuel cell's performance. According to the computation, it can be concluded that the performances are determined by the thickness of the electrode, the effective ionic conductivity, the radius of agglomerate and other parameters. This analysis will play an important role on the manufacture of the electrode and improvement of the fuel cell's performance.The output voltage of the fuel cell also has been determined through the mathematical modeling. The comparison of the test results and the computing results can verify the feasibilities of the agglomerate model.Agglomerate model has its own strength and weakness. It is simple to solve someABSTRACTmathematical problems. However, due to the model itself, some particular parameters can not be decided precisely, just like the radius of agglomerate and the thickness of the film and so on. In some sense, such model is not matched well with the fact.In this paper, there are also some introductions of integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined cycle and integrated biomass gasification and molten fuel cell power system, including the flow chart and parts.There is much work to be done to develop the technology of fuel cell power system. The key point lays on the technology of fuel cell stack. On the basis of accumulation in MCFC experimentation, some technology will be more easily transplanted on SOFC. The final objective is to realize the integrated coal gasification or biomass gasification fuel cell power system.