Progress in IMHEX reg sign molten carbonate fuel cell technology

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6202440

O'Sullivan, J B; Marianowski, L ^[1]; Camara, E H ^[2]

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1. Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)
2. M-C Power Corp., Burr Ridge, IL (United States)

This paper addresses the status of molten carbonate technology with emphasis on cell stack designs utilizing internal manifolding of the reactant gases. The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) and M-C Power Corporation (MCP) are commercializing a design concept, IMHEX{reg sign}, based conceptually on internally manifolded plate-frame heat exchangers. This concept permits the use of inexpensive cell stack components in a way that provides a wider tolerance in component alignment and vertical dimensional changes during operation that result from deformation and compaction. The MCP/IGT commercialization program, funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Gas Research Institute (GRI), and participating gas and electric utilities, will produce a proof-of-concept 250-kW prototype stack in 1993. The tape casting process for manufacturing cell components, electrodes, and electrolyte has been scaled up from 18 in. wide (IGT) to 48 in. wide (MCP), and the cell size is being scaled up from 1 ft{sup 2} (IGT) to approximately 10 ft{sup 2} (MCP). Early design versions of the separator plate have been produced at the 10-ft{sup 2} size. Six fuel cell stacks (1-ft{sup 2} active area) have been assembled and tested at power levels up to 2.5 kW. A 70-cell stack, 1-ft{sup 2} area, was put on test in April of 1991. The stack is still in operation after more than 1500 hours of operation at power levels up to 10 kW. The results of current testing, the details of stack design, and the advantages of the internal manifold concept are reported in this paper. The roles of various program participants and the overall development/commercialization schedule are covered. 10 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6202440
• Report Number(s): CONF-911039-1; ON: TI92002491
• Resource Relation: Conference: 14. world energy engineering congress and world environmental engineering congress, Atlanta, GA (United States), 23-25 Oct 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
CASTING
COGENERATION
COMMERCIALIZATION
HEAT EXCHANGERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
DEUS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FABRICATION
FUEL CELLS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
POWER GENERATION
STEAM GENERATION
TESTING
300501* - Fuel Cells- Design & Development
300502 - Fuel Cells- Performance & Testing
300503 - Fuel Cells- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries