Fuel cell research on second-generation molten-carbonate systems. Project 9105 final technical report, 1 October 1977-30 September 1978

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5300900· OSTI ID:5300900

The objectives of the program were to (a) develop fuel cell components with improved performance and endurance and to (b) investigate, develop, and test cost-effective processes for electrolyte powder preparation and electrolyte tile fabrication. The effort was divided into three tasks: (1) Cell and component development - improved components and cost-effective fabrication processes were developed. This included developing stable anode structures and improved electrolyte structures. (2) Fuel cell electrolyte optimization - new melt compositions were tested in laboratory-scale cells. Supporting information necessary for electrolyte selection and for understanding the processes occurring in these systems was obtained by developing models to describe cell performance and by electrode kinetic measurements. (3) Cell operation at high pressure - the system was operated at high pressure to identify and provide solutions to cell-decay mechanisms. The anode developmental work focused on using nickel- and cobalt-based structures containing additives to inhibit sintering. A singificant experimental effort was devoted to defining the processing parameters necessary for producing acceptable electrolyte powders by an aqueous slurry technique. Potentially cost-effective tile manufacturing processes using the powders produced by the aqueous slurry process were identified in a cooperative effort with Coors Porcelain Co. Efforts to optimize the electrolyte composition focused on identifying the rates of fuel oxidation as a function of anode material, temperature, carbonate composition, and gas composition, and the development of mathematical models for the prediction of fuel cell performance as a function of various system operating parameters.

• Research Organization: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EM-78-C-03-1735
• OSTI ID: 5300900
• Report Number(s): SAN-1735-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
300502 -- Fuel Cells-- Performance & Testing
300503 -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINATES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ANODES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COBALT
CURRENT DENSITY
DATA
DATA FORMS
DEFORMATION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GRAPHS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
INFORMATION
ISOLATED VALUES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS WORKING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATRIX MATERIALS
MEDIUM PRESSURE
METALS
MIXTURES
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
NICKEL
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POLARIZATION
POTASSIUM CARBONATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
PRESSING
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
REACTOR MATERIALS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SINTERING
SLURRIES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SUSPENSIONS
TESTING
THERMAL CYCLING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS