Modeling of Transport Processes Within a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Stack

Abstract

Concern over global warming due to emission of green house gases has generated considerable interests and intensive development of fuel cells. In order to reduce the fuel cell manufacturing costs and to improve its performance and reliability, a better understanding of the fuel and oxidant species transport processes within fuel cell stack is important for fuel cell design. Fuel and oxidant stream flow distributions within a stack have significant impact on fuel cell performance and efficiency. To this end, this investigation presents the effects of the fuel and oxidant flow distributions on fuel cell stack performance with a model of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer including the electrochemical reaction, within a molten carbonate fuel cell under different gas supply conditions.