Modeling and characterization of molten carbonate fuel cell for electricity generation and carbon dioxide capture

The growing electricity request and more severe commitments on emissions led to the research of more and more efficient energy transformation processes. The use of Fuel Cell in order to improve energetic and exergetic efficiency is well-assessed and a number of advanced processes and highly functional materials are currently under investigation, advising a high potential of these systems for the future development of sustainable energy technologies. In particular, the capabilities of integrating high temperature fuel cells within energy conversion systems having medium and high grade thermal sources (flue gases) has resulted in a renewed interest in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC). In fact, they operate at temperatures in the range of 600-700°C and they could be fed by unreformed gas, internally integrating a methane-steam reforming section (direct or indirect).In this paper, the Authors present a theoretical activity finalized to the design and characterization of the integration of a MCFC in a coal fired power plant: a physical model of the fuel cell has been developed, where the energy and chemical processes are represented for the cell stack and geometrical and electrical parameters have been taken into consideration. The model has been applied for system analysis with respect to multiple steady states, sensitivity and stability behavior. Both direct and indirect internal reforming cases have been compared each other, evaluating the energetic and environmental performances of the use of the MCFC as CO2 remover.