Development of molten carbonate fuel cell power plant technology. Quarterly technical progress report No. 2, January 1-March 31, 1980

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5081243· OSTI ID:5081243

Healy, H. C.; Sanderson, R. A.; Wertheim, F. J.; Farris, P. F.; Mientek, A. P.; Maricle, D. L.; Briggs, T. A.; Louis, G. A.; Abrams, M. L.; Bushnell, C. L.; Nickols, R. C.; Gelting, R. L.; Katz, M.; Stewart, R. C.; Kunz, H. R.; Gruver, G. A.; Bregoli, L. J.; Steuernagel, W. H.; Smith, R.; Smith, S. W. ; Szymanski, S. T.

The overall objective of this 29-month program is to develop and verify the design of a prototype molten carbonate fuel cell stack which meets the requirements of 1990's competitive coal-fired electrical utility central station or industrial cogeneration power plants. During this quarter, effort was continued in all four major task areas: Task 1 - system studies to define the reference power plant design; Task 2 - cell and stack design, development and verification; Task 3 - preparation for fabrication and testing of the full-scale prototype stack; and Task 4 - developing the capability for operation of stacks on coal-derived gas. In the system study activity of Task 1, preliminary module and cell stack design requirements were completed. Fuel processor characterization has been completed by Bechtel National, Inc. Work under Task 2 defined design approaches for full-scale stack busbars and electrical isolation of reactant manifolds and reactant piping. Preliminary design requirements were completed for the anode. Conductive nickel oxide for cathode fabrication has been made by oxidation and lithiation of porous nickel sheet stock. A method of mechanizing the tape casting process for increased production rates was successfully demonstrated under Task 3. In Task 4, theoretical calculations indicated that hydrogen cyanide and ammonia, when present as impurities in the stack fuel gas, will have no harmful effects. Laboratory experiments using higher than anticipated levels of ethylene showed no harmful effects. Components for the mobile test facility are being ordered.

• Research Organization: United Technologies Corp., South Windsor, CT (USA). Power Systems Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-79ET15440
• OSTI ID: 5081243
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/15440-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
COAL FUEL CELLS
DESIGN
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
ANODES
BATTERY SEPARATORS
CATHODES
CO-GENERATION
COAL GASIFICATION
CONTAMINATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTROLYTES
FABRICATION
FUEL GAS
IMPURITIES
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
POISONING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SULFUR
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
NONMETALS
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
300501* - Fuel Cells- Design & Development
300502 - Fuel Cells- Performance & Testing