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Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Overview PDF
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Overview PDF
• Fuels :
• Hydrogen is input on the Anode side
• Oxygen is input on the Cathode side
• Carbon Dioxide is a second input
on the Cathode side, but may be
recycled from the Anode output
• CO2 may also be produced by
combusting the anode exhaust gas
which is mixed directly with the
the anode inlet gas
• Outputs : Electrical Power, Water,
Heat, Cathode Gas
• Advantages :
a. The high operating temperature improves chemical reaction
kinetics and so there is no need for noble metal catalysts (lower cost)
b. High temperature operation makes the MCFC resistant
to carbon monoxide contamination and as a result, may
use alternate fuels such as natural gas or methane.
c. High efficiency, up to 60% electrical efficiency or when
used as combined heat and power (CHP) up to 80%
d. Clean energy and quiet operation
• Disadvantages :
a. High temperature operation limits applications to stationary power
plants (slow startup time)
b. Liquid electrolyte is difficult to work with
c. Short life span due to electrode and electrolyte degradation
d. Inject CO2 at cathode as carbonite ions consumed by anode reaction
2. Types of Applications and Market Status
• Primary application is stationary power plants
a. Electrical Utilities
b. Industrial and distributed power generation
c. Military and Government (Post Office)
• Large systems : typically 250kW to 3MW
• Future application may include ship power plants
a. Navy and civilian shipping
Molton Carbonate Fuel Cell shipments by Power (MegaWatts) MCFC Yearly Shipments (MegaWatts)
year MCFC Total FC Stationary Ratio
MCFC Total FC Stationary
2009 18.00 35.40 0.51
200.00
2010 7.70 35.00 0.22
2011 44.50 81.40 0.55 180.00
2012 62.00 124.90 0.50
160.00
2013 91.90 186.90 0.49
140.00
120.00
Percentage of MCFC to Total FC shipped
(Power Capacity) 100.00
0.60 80.00
0.50
60.00
0.40
0.30 40.00
0.20
20.00
0.10
0.00 0.00
2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
3. Cost Targets
• MCFC power plant installation cost ~ $ 4,000 / kW
• About 2x the cost of Gas Turbine and 3x cost of Reciprocating Engine
• Feasibility study by NREL compared installation costs of several
competing power generation technologies
Company Model Technology Installed Cost
FCE Direct Fuel Cell 1500 MCFC $4,245/kW
Doosan Power Pure Cell 400 PAFC $4,375/kW
Solar Mercury 50 gas turbine $1,896/kW
Caterpillar C3250 reciprocating engine $1,342/kW
4375
4245
1896
1342