Development of indirect internal reforming molten carbonate fuel cell

Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) has high potential for use as an energy converter of various fuels to electricity and heat. MCFC causes the environmental pollution and helps to reduce the greenhouse problem. The development of an indirect internal reforming molten carbonate fuel cell (IIR‐MCFC) was initiated by the Kansai Electric Power Company and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. IIR‐MCFC has several advantages, for example: (1) higher efficiency is expected because of efficient utilization of heat from cell reaction to reforming reaction; and (2) longer life compared with direct internal reforming MCFC is expected by means of loading reforming catalyst in the cell separated from the electrolyte vapor which causes deactivation of the reforming catalyst. Class stacks of 3 kW, 10 kW, 30 kW and a 100 kW were operated successfully. Output power of the 100‐kW class stack generated 109 kW in IIR mode (direct methane feed). In the test of the 30‐kW and the 100‐kW class stacks, PSA (pressure swing adsorption) to separate carbon from the anode exhaust gas is installed in the anode gas recycle loop to the cathode.