Process for operating a dual compartment anode structure
First Claim
1. A process for molten carbonate electrolyte fuel cell operation comprising:
- supplying hydrogen containing fuel to a fuel compartment, said fuel compartment separated from an anode reaction gas compartment by a hydrogen ion porous and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil;
dissociating said hydrogen to ionic hydrogen;
passing said ionic hydrogen through said metallic foil to said anode reaction gas compartment which comprises a porous metallic anode structure adjacent said molten carbonate electrolyte;
reacting in said porous anode structure said ionic hydrogen with carbonate ion producing water, carbon dioxide, and electrons;
passing said produced water, carbon dioxide and two electrons to a porous metallic cathode structure on the opposite side of said molten carbonate electrolyte;
supplying oxygen to an oxidant compartment which comprises said porous cathode structure;
reacting in said porous cathode structure said carbon dioxide, oxygen and electrons to producing carbonate ions for passage to said cathode; and
removing water from said oxidant compartment.
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Abstract
A dual compartment anode structure for use in molten carbonates fuel cells having an electrolyte porous metallic plate structure with one face adapted to contact the electrolyte and an opposite face having a plurality of ribs extending therefrom, a hydrogen ion and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil having one face in contact with the ends of the ribs to define an anode reacton gas compartment therebetween, and a corrugated metallic current collector having a plurality of peaks with one face at the peaks in contact with the opposite face of the metallic foil defining an anode fuel gas compartment therbetween. The dual compartment anode structure of this invention provides separation between the electrolyte and the fuel thereby permitting internal cell reforming of hydrogen containing fuels without poisoning of the reforming catalyst and provides greater cell stability due to reduction in corrosion and reduced electrolyte and electrode loss.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for molten carbonate electrolyte fuel cell operation comprising:
- supplying hydrogen containing fuel to a fuel compartment, said fuel compartment separated from an anode reaction gas compartment by a hydrogen ion porous and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil;
dissociating said hydrogen to ionic hydrogen;
passing said ionic hydrogen through said metallic foil to said anode reaction gas compartment which comprises a porous metallic anode structure adjacent said molten carbonate electrolyte;
reacting in said porous anode structure said ionic hydrogen with carbonate ion producing water, carbon dioxide, and electrons;
passing said produced water, carbon dioxide and two electrons to a porous metallic cathode structure on the opposite side of said molten carbonate electrolyte;
supplying oxygen to an oxidant compartment which comprises said porous cathode structure;
reacting in said porous cathode structure said carbon dioxide, oxygen and electrons to producing carbonate ions for passage to said cathode; and
removing water from said oxidant compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- supplying hydrogen containing fuel to a fuel compartment, said fuel compartment separated from an anode reaction gas compartment by a hydrogen ion porous and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil;
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4. In a process for electrical production by molten alkali carbonate electrolyte fuel cells, the improvement comprising:
- supplying hydrogen containing fuel to a fuel compartment, said fuel compartment separated from an anode reaction gas compartment by a hydrogen ion porous and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil;
dissociating said hydrogen to ionic hydrogen; and
passing said ionic hydrogen through said metallic foil to said anode reaction gas compartment which comprises a porous metallic anode structure adjacent said molten carbonate electrolyte. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- supplying hydrogen containing fuel to a fuel compartment, said fuel compartment separated from an anode reaction gas compartment by a hydrogen ion porous and molecular hydrogen and electrolyte non-porous metallic foil;
Specification