Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is a promising technology for distributed power generation. The core of an MCFC power generation unit is the stack, where various fuel cells are connected together in series and parallel in order to obtain the desired voltage and power. Stack geometry and configuration are major engineering topics, as inhomogeneous temperature or mass fractions cause inefficient performances of the fuel cells, as efficiency and power smaller than the expected and shorter lifetime. A detailed model is a useful tool to improve stack performances, through design improvements. In this paper, a 3D model of a stack composed of 15 circular MCFC, considering heat, mass and current transfer as well as chemical and electrochemical reactions is presented. The model validation is conducted using some preliminary experimental data obtained for an MCFC stack developed in the Fabbricazioni Nucleari laboratories. These results are examined in order to improve the stack configuration. It is shown that power density may be increased of about 20% through double side feeding. In addition, the average temperature gradients in the axial direction are reduced of more than 70%. Significant reductions in the temperature gradients, especially in transversal direction, can be achieved by adjusting the mass flow rate of cathodic gas supplied to the various cells.

Design improvement of circular molten carbonate fuel cell stack through CFD Analysis / Verda, Vittorio; Sciacovelli, Adriano. - In: APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING. - ISSN 1359-4311. - (2011), pp. 2740-2748. [10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.04.046]

Design improvement of circular molten carbonate fuel cell stack through CFD Analysis

VERDA, Vittorio;SCIACOVELLI, ADRIANO
2011

Abstract

Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is a promising technology for distributed power generation. The core of an MCFC power generation unit is the stack, where various fuel cells are connected together in series and parallel in order to obtain the desired voltage and power. Stack geometry and configuration are major engineering topics, as inhomogeneous temperature or mass fractions cause inefficient performances of the fuel cells, as efficiency and power smaller than the expected and shorter lifetime. A detailed model is a useful tool to improve stack performances, through design improvements. In this paper, a 3D model of a stack composed of 15 circular MCFC, considering heat, mass and current transfer as well as chemical and electrochemical reactions is presented. The model validation is conducted using some preliminary experimental data obtained for an MCFC stack developed in the Fabbricazioni Nucleari laboratories. These results are examined in order to improve the stack configuration. It is shown that power density may be increased of about 20% through double side feeding. In addition, the average temperature gradients in the axial direction are reduced of more than 70%. Significant reductions in the temperature gradients, especially in transversal direction, can be achieved by adjusting the mass flow rate of cathodic gas supplied to the various cells.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Verda Sciacovelli_ATE_OpenAccess.pdf

Open Access dal 21/06/2012

Tipologia: 1. Preprint / submitted version [pre- review]
Licenza: PUBBLICO - Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 1.07 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.07 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2488180
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo