Electrolyte paste for molten carbonate fuel cells
- Southwick, MA
- New London, CT
The electrolyte matrix and electrolyte reservoir plates in a molten carbonate fuel cell power plant stack are filled with electrolyte by applying a paste of dry electrolyte powder entrained in a dissipatable carrier to the reactant flow channels in the current collector plate. The stack plates are preformed and solidified to final operating condition so that they are self sustaining and can be disposed one atop the other to form the power plant stack. Packing the reactant flow channels with the electrolyte paste allows the use of thinner electrode plates, particularly on the anode side of the cells. The use of the packed electrolyte paste provides sufficient electrolyte to fill the matrix and to entrain excess electrolyte in the electrode plates, which also serve as excess electrolyte reservoirs. When the stack is heated up to operating temperatures, the electrolyte in the paste melts, the carrier vaporizes, or chemically decomposes, and the melted electrolyte is absorbed into the matrix and electrode plates.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC21-87MC23170
- Assignee:
- International Fuel Cells Corporation (South Windsor, CT)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5468573
- OSTI ID:
- 870167
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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molten
carbonate
fuel
cells
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solidified
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packing
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entrain
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heated
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absorbed
electrolyte reservoir
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fuel cell
provides sufficient
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flow channels
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current collector
fuel cells
carbonate fuel
power plant
operating temperature
molten carbonate
operating temperatures
operating condition
collector plate
electrolyte matrix
plant stack
reactant flow
electrolyte reservoirs
reservoir plate
electrode plate
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