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Stack Modelling of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC)
Author(s) -
Pfafferodt M.,
Heidebrecht P.,
Sundmacher K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200900174
Subject(s) - stack (abstract data type) , molten carbonate fuel cell , coupling (piping) , fuel cells , triple phase boundary , boundary value problem , mechanics , materials science , nuclear engineering , thermodynamics , chemistry , engineering , computer science , chemical engineering , physics , electrode , mathematics , solid oxide fuel cell , mathematical analysis , anode , metallurgy , programming language
A model of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) stack including internal steam reforming is presented. It comprises a symmetric section of the stack, consisting of one half indirect internal reforming unit (IIR) and four fuel cells. The model describes the gas phase compositions, the gas and solid temperatures and the current density distribution within the highly integrated system. The model assumptions, the differential equations and boundary conditions as well as the coupling equations used in the model are shown. The strategy to solve the system of partial differential equations is outlined. The simulation results show that the fuel cells within the stack operate at different temperatures. This is expected to have an impact on the voltages as well as the degradation rates within the individual fuel cells.