Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
Introduction
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) use a molten carbonate salt suspended in
a porous ceramic matrix as the electrolyte. Salts commonly used include
lithium carbonate, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.
They operate at high temperature, around 650 0C and there are several
advantages associated with this. Firstly, the high operating temperature
dramatically improves reaction kinetics and thus it is not necessary to boost this
with a noble metal catalyst.
The higher temperature also makes the cell less prone to carbon monoxide
poisoning than lower temperature systems. As a result, MCFC systems can
operate on a variety of different fuels, including coal-derived fuel gas, methane
or natural gas, eliminating the need for external reformers.
Working
In a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), carbonate salts are the electrolyte.
Heated to 650o C (about 1,200o F), the salts melt and conduct carbonate ions
(CO3) from the cathode to the anode. At the anode, hydrogen reacts with the
ions to produce water, carbon dioxide, and electrons. The electrons travel
through an external circuit, providing electrical power along the way, and
return to the cathode. There, oxygen from air and carbon dioxide recycled from
the anode react with the electrons to form CO3 ions that replenish the
electrolyte and transfer current through the fuel cell.
High-temperature MCFCs can extract hydrogen from a variety of fuels using
either an internal or external reformer.
Chemical Reaction
Merging the half-cell reactions of the anode and the cathode yields the overall
reaction of the fuel cell:
In MCFC fuel cells, the reactant essential by the fuel cell is not limited to
hydrogen like other most fuel cells. Here, CO can also act as a fuel through the
following electrochemical reaction at the anode,
The cathode reaction would be the same as when hydrogen is supplied to the
anode.
Components
Electrolyte
Electrodes
Catalysts
Since they operate at extremely high temperatures of 650 °C (roughly 1,200 °F)
and above, non-precious metals can be used as catalysts at the anode and
cathode, reducing costs.
The materials for the anode that are used must withstand a reducing
environment. Copper, cobalt, and nickel with additives such as aluminum or
chromium can be used as an electrocatalyst for the oxidation of hydrogen at the
anode. The additives increase the life and stability of the anode when subjected
to sintering and creeping under compression forces of the stack.
Advantages
These fuel cells can work at up to 60% efficiency for fuel to electricity
conversion, and overall efficiencies can be over 80% in CHP or CCP
applications where the process heat is also used.
they are more resistant to impurities than other fuel cell types and are not prone
to poisoning by CO2 or CO. Thus, MCFCs can use gases derived from coal or
carbon oxides as fuel.
MCFCs work well with catalysts made of nickel, which is much less expensive
than platinum.
High operating pressure, which results in lower irreversibility.
Suitable for use as combined cycle
High operating temperature, which results in improved reaction kinetics and
lower irreversibility.
Disadvantages
Applications
MCFCs are used in large stationary power generation. Most fuel cell power
plants of megawatt capacity use MCFCs, as do large combined heat and power
(CHP) and combined cooling and power (CCP) plants. the long start-up time
due to the high occupied temperature, which makes the MCFC more suitable
for stationary and continuous operation applications.
The high operating temperature opens the opportunity of using waste heat to
make steam for space heating, industrial processing, or in a steam turbine to
generate more electricity. Many modern gas-fired power plants exploit this
type of system, called cogeneration.
In the early 1990s, Ishikawajima Heavy Industries in Japan successfully
operated a 1,000-watt molten carbonate fuel cell power generator for 10,000
continuous hours.
M-C Power Corporation of Illinois installed a 250 kw MCFC unit at the
Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego (figure 12) in 1997.
The fuel cell ran briefly, producing about 160 mwh and generating steam for
use on the base. In spring 1999, the company installed a new 75 kw stack at
Miramar and began a test program intended to gradually scale up the
installation--ultimately intending to test a 300 kw prototype commercial plant.
Institutions such as hospitals, schools, and some larger commercial operations
that can use both electricity and high-grade heat are potential customers. In
South Korea several large MCFC power plants have been built, including a 59
MW facility that provides both power and district heating to the city of
Hwaseong. Meanwhile in Europe, MCFC units are being developed for marine
use. However, the technology remains relatively expensive and cost reductions
will be necessary to appeal to more than niche or government supported
markets.
Figure 12. MC-Power molten carbonate fuel cell power plant at Miramar, 1997