The behavior of MCFCs using Li/K and Li/Na carbonates as the electrolyte at high pressure
High operating pressure, about 12--25 atm, is required to develop a highly efficient molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) plant system combined with a gas turbine or coal gasifier system. Operation at high pressure, over 10 atm, will accelerate dissolution of the NiO cathode and shorten cell life. Therefore, economical applicability as a high-pressure and high-efficiency MCFC plant system and the economical requirement of cell life time must be totally investigated. It is very important to clarify the performance of the MCFC under such high pressures as the first step for such an investigation. The authors have examined the performance of several MCFC cells using Li/K and Li/Na electrolyte at pressures of up to 44.5 atm, avoiding possible carbon formation in the fuel stream. The analysis method for cell performance developed below 7 atm pressure conditions has proved applicable for analyzing cell performance over 10 atm. The smaller cathode polarization concerned with CO{sub 2} concentration and the higher conductivity of the Li/Na electrolyte enabled a higher performance than that of a Li/K cell. Application of the Li/Na electrolyte to MCFCs seems to be an effective way of prolonging cell life with measurements of the small amount of deposited nickel. Furthermore, the Li/Na cell attained 3.3 kW/m{sup 2} power density, and a high cell voltage (0.82 V) was obtained at 400 mA/cm{sup 2} in 16 atm. This result shows the possibility of developing a high-efficiency MCFC plant system.
- Research Organization:
- Central Research Inst. of Electric Power Industry, Yokosuka, Kanagawa (JP)
- OSTI ID:
- 20000090
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 146, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1999; ISSN 0013-4651
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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