A Student Oriented Fuel Cell Project At Pittsburg State University (Ii): Low Pressure Based Fabrication Process For The Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (Mcfc) Electrolyte Matrix Support.

There is an on-going student-oriented effort at Pittsburg State University to develop and fabricate a resilient and crack-free molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) electrolyte matrix support that is capable of functioning at the 650 o C operating temperature of the MCFC system. Students of the heat transfer, thermodynamics and plastics courses, and PSU/NSF-REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) summer program work on this project, in response to the EPA/Energy industry’s search for pollutants-free, non-combustion energy systems. The project utilizes a compression molding-controlling fabrication process, and electrical performance of produced MCFC matrices are determined via resistivity analyzer measurements. Low pressures of less than 5000 psi yield the best results; high pressures tend to fracture the matrix. Room temperature volume resistivities of 10 – 10 ohm-m have been achieved; a range much better than those of typical insulative materials (10 – 10 ohm-m). Current efforts focus on reducing the resistivity values of fabricated MCFC matrices from the semi-conductive to the conductive range.