NUMERICAL-ANALYSES OF THE INTERNAL CONDITIONS OF A MOLTEN-CARBONATE FUEL-CELL STACK - COMPARISON OF STACK PERFORMANCES FOR VARIOUS GAS-FLOWTYPES

A thrice-dimensional numerical analysis model of cell voltage, tempera ture and current profile In a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) stack has been developed. 'The Formula for MCFC Performance' that was derive d hom the test results of a single cell having the same active compone nts as the stack has been applied to the calculation of electrochemica l performance. Calculation result of cell voltages and temperature pro file showed good agreement with 10-100 kW class stack experimental dat a. Using this model, cell voltages, temperature profile and net output powers (MCFC output power minus required cathode recycling power) of five gas flow geometries have been compared. The calculation results s howed that the net output power is highest in the co-flow geometry. Fr om the viewpoint of a stack performance, a cooling power, and a contro l of maximum temperature, the co-flow type stack has advantages over t he external reforming type MCFC power plant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.