Performance analysis of NiO cathode using a molten carbonate fuel cell with gas recycle

Abstract

The effect of oxidant gas composition on the polarization of NiO cathode has been investigated in a bench-scale molten carbonate fuel cell operating at 650 degrees C. Cathode gas recycling has been applied to minimize the gradient of oxidant gas composition within the cell. The performance of NiO cathode was analyzed at a number of gas recycling ratios and a variety of inlet gas compositions to investigate the relation between cathode polarization and partial pressure of oxidant gas. It was found that the correlation equation based on superoxide mechanism could be used to estimate the cathode performance in a broad partial pressure range of oxidant gas.