• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.423-431
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• 2011

Recentincreasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by the $CO_2$ emission of fossil fuelsstimulated the interest in alternative and renewable sources of energy. Fuel cell is a representative example of hydrogen energy utilization. In this study, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell system is simulated by using $Aspen^{TM}$. Stack model is consisted of equilibrium reaction equations using $ACM^{TM}$(Aspen Custom Modeler). Balance of process of fuel cell system is developed in Aspen $Plus^{TM}$ and simulated at steady-state. Analysis of performance of the system is carried out by using sensitivity analysis tool with main operating parameters such as current density, S/C ratio, and fuel utilization and recycle ratio.In Aspen $Dynamics^{TM}$, dynamics of MCFC system is simulated with PID control loops. From the simulation, we proposed operation range which generated maximum power and efficiency in MCFC power plant.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.544-550
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• 1995

In this paper, the anode for molten carbonate fuel cell have been prepared by doctor blade method and microstructure, pore distribution, sintering test of the electrode were investigated. Component analysis were done by Scanning Electron Micrograph, porosimeter and sintering test apparatus. As a result, median pore size was 11.mu.m order at the major specimen and porosity was about 70%. And thickness loss of the electrode was 1.5% at Ni-10Co anode after sintering test.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.129-136
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• 2006

High temperature corrosion behavior of AISI-type 316L stainless steel for the MCFC(molten carbonate fuel cell) bipolar application was studied by immersion test and penetration attack method in anode environment ($650^{\circ}C$, $Li_2CO_3/K_2CO_3=62/38$ mol%, $H_2/CO_2=80/20$ vol%) without or with different $CaCO_3$ content. Not only immersion test method but also morphological observation of samples in the carbonate melts are adopted as experimental methods. With aid of the morphological observation of cross section of samples immersed in a carbonate melt was possible to obtain penetration attack. The concentration effect of $CaCO_3$ inhibitor was investigated in order to verify the optimum concentration for practical application in MCFC stack operation. The corrosion rate in the presence of $CaCO_3$ was proven to be decreased as a function of $CaCO_3$ concentration. The corrosion rate in the presence of $CaCO_3$ was measured with a value of 6.9 mpy which is 2.4 times lower than that of inhibitor-free electrolyte. The cross section microscopy revealed that the internal penetration by oxidation in molten carbonate is very severe. In this case, the attack was occurred not only dissolution loss in the electrolyte by corrosion reaction but also weight gain through oxide layer by internal penetration.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2016

The effect of initial electrolyte loading (IEL) on cell performance in a coin-type molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) was investigated in this work. Since the material of MCFC depends on the manufacturer, optimisation requires experimental investigation. In total, four IEL values, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 g, were used, corresponding to a pore filling ratio (PFR) of 38, 51, 77, and 102%, respectively. The cell performance with respect to the PFR was analysed via steady-state polarisation, step-chronopotentiomtery, and impedance methods. The electrochemical analyses revealed that internal resistance and overpotential of the cell decreased with increasing PFR, and a large overpotential was observed when the PFR was 102%, probably due to the flooding phenomenon. After operation, cross-section of the cell was analysed via surface analysis of SEM and EDS methods, and the remaining electrolyte was estimated by dissolution of the cell in 10 wt% acetic acid. A linear relationship between IEL and the weight reduction ratio by dissolution was obtained. Thus, the remaining amount of electrolyte could be measured after operation. The results of SEM and EDS showed that a PFR of 38 and 102% showed a lack and flooding of electrolytes at the cell, respectively, which led to a large overpotential. This work reports that MCFC performance is allowed only in the narrow range of PFR.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.88.1-88.1
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• 2010

In recent days, the study for the renewable energy is required to supplement traditional energy source. One of the renewable energy of Fuel Cell is classified according to the electrolytes. It is the MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) for this study. One of the equipments of the heat exchangers is important component for efficiency and cost. In MCFC system, several heat exchangers are used according to the application. It is named for the humidifier because it is to preheat the fuel and water so that a reactor will convert some of the incoming fuel to hydrogen. Then, hot side fluid service is used the exhausted gas from the fuel cell and cold side fluid service is the fuel and water. The operation temperature range is about 25~500 Celsius Degree. This heat exchanger has the problems of heat transfer considering to multiphase fluid and phase changing. So it is necessary to analyze the heat transfer characteristics and to propose the reasonable design methodology for the humidifier. In this study, the thermal characteristic for the humidifier is estimated by using commercial tool of heat exchanger design and rating. And this study provides the testing methodology and presents the results for test facility of fabrication and for testing.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.259-265
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• 2008

The corrosion and degradation factors of a current collector in a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) were investigated to determine the optimized coating thickness of nickel on STS316L. The results show that the surface morphology and electrical properties depended on the nickel coating thickness. The surface morphology gradually changed from a flat to a porous structure along as the nickel coating thickness decreased, and the electrical resistance of the nickel-coated STS316L increased as the nickel coating thickness decreased. This can be attributed to the diffusion of elements of Fe and Cr from the substrate through the nickel grain boundaries. Additionally, carburization in the metal grains or grain boundaries in an anodic environment was found to influence the electrical properties due to matrix distortion. The resistance of Cr-oxide layers formed in an anodic environment causes a drop in the potential, resulting in a decrease in the system efficiency.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.834-839
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• 2009

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is performed to investigate flow characteristics in the anode channels and manifold of the internal reforming type molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Considering the computational difficulties associated with the size and geometric complexity of the MCFC system, the polyhedral meshes that can reduce mesh connectivity problems at the intersection of the channel and the manifold are adopted and chemical reactions inside the MCFC system are not included. Through this study, the gas flow rate uniformity of the anode channels is mainly analyzed to provide basic insights into improved design parameters for anode flow channel design. Results indicate that the uniformity in flow-rate is in the range of ${\pm}$1% between the anode channels. Also, the mal-distributed inlet flow-rate conditions and the change in the size of the manifold depth have no significant effect on the flow-rate uniformity of the anode channels.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.3120-3124
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• 2008

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is performed to investigate flow characteristics in the anode channels and manifold of the internal reforming type molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Considering the computational difficulties associated with the size and geometric complexity of the MCFC system, the polyhedral meshes that can reduce mesh connectivity problems at the intersection of the channel and the manifold are adopted and chemical reactions inside the MCFC system are not included. Through this study, the gas flow rate uniformity of the anode channels is mainly analyzed to provide basic insights into improved design parameters for anode flow channel design. Results indicate that the uniformity in flow-rate is in the range of ${\pm}1%$ between the anode channels. Also, the mal-distributed inlet flow-rate conditions and the change in the size of the manifold depth have no significant effect on the flow-rate uniformity of the anode channels.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.82.2-82.2
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• 2011

A channel design which is closely related with the mass transport overpotential is one of the most important procedures to optimize the whole fuel cell performance. In this study, three dimensional results of a numerical study for gas distribution in channels of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) unit cell for a 1kW class stack was presented. The relationship between the fuel and air distribution in the anode and cathode channels of the unit cell and the electric performance was observed. A charge balance model in the electrodes and the electrolyte coupled with a heat transfer model and a fluid flow model in the porous electrodes and the channels was solved for the mass, momentum, energy, species and charge conservation. The electronic and ionic charge balance in the anode and cathode current feeders, the electrolyte and GDEs were solved for using Ohm's law, while Butler-Volmer charge transfer kinetics described the charge transfer current density. The material transport was described by the diffusion and convection equations and Navier-Stokes equations govern the flow in the open channel. It was assumed that heat is produced by the electrochemical reactions and joule heating due to the electrical currents.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2017

Interests in fuel cell based power generation systems are on the steady rise owing to various advantages such as high efficiency, ultra low emission, and potential to achieve a very high efficiency by a synergistic combination with conventional heat engines. In this study, the performance of a hybrid system which combined a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and an indirectly fired micro gas turbine adopting carbon dioxide capture technologies was predicted. Commercialized 2.5 MW class MCFC system was used as the based system so that the result of this study could reflect practicality. Three types of ambient pressure hybrid systems were devised: one adopting post-combustion capture and two adopting oxy-combustion capture. One of the oxy-combustion based system is configured as a semi-closed type, while the other is an open cycle type. The post-combustion based system exhibited higher net power output and efficiency than the oxy-combustion based systems. However, the semi-closed system using oxy-combustion has the advantage of capturing almost all carbon dioxide.