Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells or MCFC is fuel cell, which doesn’t need pure hydrogen as the fuel since this fuel cell has ability to convert fossil fuel into hydrogen rich gas. The fuels compatible are diesel oil, natural gas, biogas, and coal. Variety of fuels compatible with the system make it cost efficient since pure hydrogen is expensive. Even more, the fuel cell do not need reformer to convert hydrocarbon into hydrogen gas externally. However, many things make molten carbonate fuel cells as inexpensive choice.
MCFC is fuel cell that operates at extreme temperature from 600 degree Celsius or about 1200 degree Fahrenheit and above. It requires high temperature since electrolyte used on this fuel cell is lithium potassium carbonate salt that will melt at high temperature into molten state. Now, we know why they called it molten carbonate. High temperature make it low cost due to they do not need expensive catalyst on the electrode. Many low temperature fuel cells require platinum catalyst material. We all know that platinum is precious metal with very expensive price.
Another reason of MCFC as inexpensive choice is lower operation cost due to high efficiency. MCFC could reach up to 60% efficiency while phosphoric acid fuel cell could not even reach 50% of efficiency. If waste heat is reused in the MCFC, the efficiency could raise up to 85%.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells also has other benefits. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide poisoning is a problem for other fuel cells, but MCFC has ability to recycled carbon oxides. Instead of throw the carbon oxides as the waste, they use it as fuel. Carbons build up in anode that reducing performance, not happen in this fuel cell. This is the reason why MCFC is resistant to impurities and gas from coal could be used as the fuel.
Nonetheless, disadvantages are always there and MCFC is not exception. High temperature of MCFC may cause some advantages, but it is also leads to disadvantages since extreme high temperature is not suitable for mobile application. Unfortunately, ever hybrid car development is becoming a trend lately; MCFC could not suit the application. This is the reason why you could not find hybrid car using MCFC. MCFC is more suitable for stationary power plant with ability to hold extreme temperature.
The other disadvantage of MCFC low durability that make it could not use for long time. The reason for low durability is carbonate electrolyte cause corrosion to the electrodes that lead to component degradation. Researchers still try to find solution for this problem. They try to find corrosion materials for MCFC components they also try to re-design the cell to make it more durable and increase life span without causing low performance of the fuel cell.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells are widely used at stationary power plant for application in industry, electrical, and military. Even it may not suit hybrid car, some researchers start to develop it to be used at ship. The inexpensive fuel cell makes it great choice to lower operation cost of the ship. More and more developments of MCFC are made by many companies to make this inexpensive fuel cell compatible with more applications.
MCFC is fuel cell that operates at extreme temperature from 600 degree Celsius or about 1200 degree Fahrenheit and above. It requires high temperature since electrolyte used on this fuel cell is lithium potassium carbonate salt that will melt at high temperature into molten state. Now, we know why they called it molten carbonate. High temperature make it low cost due to they do not need expensive catalyst on the electrode. Many low temperature fuel cells require platinum catalyst material. We all know that platinum is precious metal with very expensive price.
Another reason of MCFC as inexpensive choice is lower operation cost due to high efficiency. MCFC could reach up to 60% efficiency while phosphoric acid fuel cell could not even reach 50% of efficiency. If waste heat is reused in the MCFC, the efficiency could raise up to 85%.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells also has other benefits. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide poisoning is a problem for other fuel cells, but MCFC has ability to recycled carbon oxides. Instead of throw the carbon oxides as the waste, they use it as fuel. Carbons build up in anode that reducing performance, not happen in this fuel cell. This is the reason why MCFC is resistant to impurities and gas from coal could be used as the fuel.
Nonetheless, disadvantages are always there and MCFC is not exception. High temperature of MCFC may cause some advantages, but it is also leads to disadvantages since extreme high temperature is not suitable for mobile application. Unfortunately, ever hybrid car development is becoming a trend lately; MCFC could not suit the application. This is the reason why you could not find hybrid car using MCFC. MCFC is more suitable for stationary power plant with ability to hold extreme temperature.
The other disadvantage of MCFC low durability that make it could not use for long time. The reason for low durability is carbonate electrolyte cause corrosion to the electrodes that lead to component degradation. Researchers still try to find solution for this problem. They try to find corrosion materials for MCFC components they also try to re-design the cell to make it more durable and increase life span without causing low performance of the fuel cell.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells are widely used at stationary power plant for application in industry, electrical, and military. Even it may not suit hybrid car, some researchers start to develop it to be used at ship. The inexpensive fuel cell makes it great choice to lower operation cost of the ship. More and more developments of MCFC are made by many companies to make this inexpensive fuel cell compatible with more applications.
