An original cylindrical Small Size Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (SSMCFC) was presented in previous works. The cell main peculiarity is the original architecture which involves both elements geometry and gases arrangements. High benefits are obtained by the proposed configuration. Higher mechanical stability is now obtained by an innovative cell configuration. An innovative tie system was designed and realized. Cell elements (electrodes, electrolyte and distribution plates) are placed into a cylindrical vessel. Sealing is enhanced and compression strain is further kept uniform along cell surface by the tie system and an original stacking frame. The original system contributes also to reduce heat losses. Tests are carried out on a 1kW stack constituted by 15 single cells. Voltage/current characteristic is obtained at different working conditions. Maximum power density was also evaluated. Tests were carried out by realizing a control and monitoring system for SSMCFC. New methodologies were proposed to optimize cell realization times and reduce industrialization costs: the target customer and the target price were established by an economical study. Results confirm the cell design as a promising solution for µCHP applications because of performances, durability and low costs.
A 1kW Cylindrical Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
ROSSI, Federico;DI MATTEO, UMBERTO;NICOLINI, ANDREA
2006
Abstract
An original cylindrical Small Size Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (SSMCFC) was presented in previous works. The cell main peculiarity is the original architecture which involves both elements geometry and gases arrangements. High benefits are obtained by the proposed configuration. Higher mechanical stability is now obtained by an innovative cell configuration. An innovative tie system was designed and realized. Cell elements (electrodes, electrolyte and distribution plates) are placed into a cylindrical vessel. Sealing is enhanced and compression strain is further kept uniform along cell surface by the tie system and an original stacking frame. The original system contributes also to reduce heat losses. Tests are carried out on a 1kW stack constituted by 15 single cells. Voltage/current characteristic is obtained at different working conditions. Maximum power density was also evaluated. Tests were carried out by realizing a control and monitoring system for SSMCFC. New methodologies were proposed to optimize cell realization times and reduce industrialization costs: the target customer and the target price were established by an economical study. Results confirm the cell design as a promising solution for µCHP applications because of performances, durability and low costs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
