Characteristics of Solid Fuel Oxidation in a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

Oxidation behaviours of ash free coal (AFC), carbon, and H₂ fuels were investigated with a coin type molten carbonate fuel cell. Because AFC has no electrical conductivity, its oxidation occurs via gasification to H₂ and CO. An interesting behaviour of mass transfer resistance reduction at higher current density was observed. Since the anode reaction has the positive reaction order of H₂, CO₂ and H₂O, the lack of CO₂ and H₂O from AFC results in a significant mass transfer resistance. However, the anode products of CO₂ and H₂O at higher current densities raise their partial pressure and mitigate the resistance. The addition of CO₂ to AFC reduced the resistance sufficiently, thus the resistance reduction at higher current densities did not appear. Electrochemical impedance results also indicate that the addition of CO₂ reduces mass transfer resistance. Carbon and H₂ fuels without CO₂ and H₂O also show similar behaviour to AFC: mass transfer resistance is diminished by raising current density and adding CO₂.