AN IMPROVED CARBONATE FUEL CELL DESIGN

COAL-BASED POWER SYSTEMS CAN PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR MEETING U.S. ENERGY REQUIREMENTS. COAL-DERIVED AND OTHER HYDROCARBON FUELS CAN POWER HIGHLY EFFICIENT FUEL CELLS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS. TO REALIZE THIS OBJECTIVE, ADVANCES MUST BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE AND REDUCE THE COST OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES COST AND PERFORMANCE OF CARBONATE FUEL CELLS THAT CAN READILY USE COAL-DERIVED FUELS. INVESTIGATION OF AN INNOVATIVE MEANS FOR ACHIEVING REDUCED CAPITAL COSTS TOGETHER WITH A STREAMLINED SYSTEM DESIGN IS PLANNED. A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCOMPLISHING THESE OBJECTIVES EXISTS IN THE AREA OF ANODE OFFGAS MANAGEMENT BY SIMPLIFYING THE METHOD OF RECYCLING CARBON DIOXIDE TO THE FUEL CELL CATHODE. IN PHASE I SYSTEM DESIGN ANALYSIS, TRADEOFF ANALYSIS, AND BENCH-SCALE FUEL CELL TESTING WILL BE CARRIED OUT.