Performance analysis of NiO cathode using a molten carbonate fuel cell with gas recycle

The effect of oxidant gas composition on the polarization of NiO cathode ha s been investigated in a bench-scale molten carbonate fuel cell operating a t 650 degrees C. Cathode gas recycling has been applied to minimize the gra dient of oxidant gas composition within the cell. The performance of NiO ca thode was analyzed at a number of gas recycling ratios and a variety of inl et gas compositions to investigate the relation between cathode polarizatio n and partial pressure of oxidant gas. It was found that the correlation eq uation based on superoxide mechanism could be used to estimate the cathode performance in a broad partial pressure range of oxidant gas.