Molten-carbonate fuel-cell technology in cogeneration applications

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6754786

O'Sullivan, J B; Marianowski, L G

A molten-carbonate fuel cell integrated with a coal gasifier is one of the most-promising coal-based technologies for electric power. The high-temperature heat available from the fuel cell may be used in a bottoming cycle and/or industrial cogeneration applications. This high fuel-cell operating temperature also permits integration of the fuel-reforming step into the cell stack when using natural gas as fuel. This results in a dramatic increase in electrical efficiency at some loss in thermal quality of the waste heat. Preliminary projections yield efficiencies exceeding 60%. This system design would be relatively uncomplicated and would not require operation at elevated pressures. The status of current molten-carbonate technology is reviewed to identify technical trends and alternative approaches being pursued by developers. The priority of future research and engineering needed are also discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6754786
• Report Number(s): CONF-820814-32; ON: DE83900129
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290800 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
COAL GASIFICATION
COGENERATION
DESIGN
DEUS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUEL CELLS
GASIFICATION
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
STEAM GENERATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION