Overpotential analysis with various anode gas compositions in a molten carbonate fuel cell

The effect of anode gas composition on the overpotential in a 100 cm2 class molten carbonate fuel cell is investigated. A total of five different gas compositions are used. They are applied to cross-check the effect of flow rate and composition, e.g., a given composition with different gas flow rates and a total flow rate with different gas compositions. The overpotential at the anode is analyzed via steady-state polarization, inert gas step addition and reactant gas addition methods. The analyses reveal that the anodic overpotential depends on the flow rate of the reactant species rather than the composition. Two identical gas compositions show less overpotential when a larger flow rate is applied. Compositions with large flow rates of CO2 and H2O also yield less overpotential due to the gas species. Overpotential analyses show that the three measurements have complementary relationships.