SIMULATION OF CATHODE DISSOLUTION AND SHORTING FOR MOLTEN-CARBONATE FUEL-CELLS

Owing to the dissolution of the nickel oxide cathodes of molten carbon ate fuel cells (MCFCs), the deposited nickel particles result in elect ronic shorting between the anode and the cathode, which is a major pro blem for the long-term operation of MCFCs. The correlation between the cathode design and the amount of nickel in the matrix was studied in order to predict the cell life by nickel shorting. It was found that t he nickel deposition rate depends not on the total cathode surface are a but on the electrolyte fill level in the cathode void volume. It can be assumed, therefore, that the shorting process is controlled by the dissolved nickel ion transfer in the matrix. Simulating the cell life by a theoretical analysis agreed well with experimental results.