Electrochemical Power Generation from Carbon in Fuel Cell with Molten Hydroxide Electrolyte

Abstract

Carbon is a unique element that possesses both electrical and structural properties that make an ideal material for uses fuel cells process. The direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) is a special type of high temperature fuel cell that directly uses a solid carbon as the anode. The direct electrochemical power generation from carbon in fuel cells uses molten hydroxide electrolyte and carbon is electrochemically directly oxidized to generate power without the need for combustion or reforming process. Molten hydroxides are very important electrolyte in direct carbon fuel cell. They have a higher ionic conductivity and higher activity of carbon electrochemical oxidation. Depending on its compelling cost and performance advantages, the use of molten hydroxide electrolytes has been rejected by researchers, because of the potential formation of carbonate salt in the cell. In DCFC anode acts as an electrode which needs to have low resistance and high electron conductivity and also as a reactant which will be consumed during direct electrochemical power generation from carbon fuel cell.. The performance of DCFC is influences by various operating conditions including cathode inlet air flow rate, electrolyte temperature and fuel particle size. The operation of DCFC could be improved by proper selection of the fuel particle size. Larger the fuel particle size, the slower the cell voltage and as the electrolyte temperature increase, the electrical parameters also increase and the corrosion of the fuel cell reduced by the formation of oxide layers that determine reliable and continuous operation of the fuel cell.