Current density analysis in a molten carbonate fuel cell unit with non-uniform inlet flow and high anode gas utilization

Abstract

This study investigates the electrical performance of a planar molten carbonate fuel cell unit with cross-flow configuration when both the anode gas utilization gets higher and anode gas inlet flows are non-uniform. A software package in this study solves two-dimensional, simultaneous, partial differential equations of mass, energy, and electro-chemistry' without considering stack direction variation. The results show that the anode gas utilization increases with a decrease in the molar flow rate, and the average current density decreases when the molar flow rate drops. Additionally, non-uniform inlet profile of the anode gas will induce a happening of non-reaction area. This non-reaction area deteriorates the average current density and then deteriorates the electrical performance to -4%.