Modeling Analysis on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells and Stacks

For predicting cell performance under certain operating conditions, the authors proposed the new form of empirical correlation equation between its performance and its operating conditions. We can determine the parameters in the equation basing on the experimental results of small sized cells in many variations of conditions. Therefore, we become to be able to analyze the effects of specific factors on cell performance more accurately.

For clarifying dynamic performance of stack, which has temperature and current distributions within itself, the authors also developed a dynamic performance model of stack. The model contain the equations for fuel gas, oxidant gas, electrolyte/electrode plate and separator plate. Using the pre-developed correlation equations described above as a local cell performance, the simulation results showed good agreement with experimental results of 10 kW class stack qualitatively. Some extended dynamic simulations were performed. With the assumption of same performance of local area, voltage response to the increasing load showed a little difference by gas flow configurations.

For power generating systems, the authors developed a dynamic performance model for 10 kW class stack with gas recycling apparatuses. We can get nonmeasurable parameters from the simulation, and it proved to be effective to understand the performance of the system which involves such gas recyclings.