Ameer Randolph
Molten carbonate fuel cells are a promising technology that could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They can reach efficiencies of up to 60%, which is considerably higher than the 37-42% efficiencies of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant. Recent studies have looked into replacing the potassium carbonate with a sodium carbonate, which has shown to have better performance and improves the stability of the cathode. In some places, molten carbonate fuel cells are being used in place of conventional gas turbines. However, there is also debate around whether they should be added to polluting power plants to improve their performance, rather than replacing them outright.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | Molten carbonate fuel cells can reach efficiencies of 60%, which is higher than the 37-42% efficiency of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant |
| CO2 emissions | Molten carbonate fuel cells can help solve the CO2 problem by capturing their own CO2 |
| Cost | It is cheaper to add a carbonate system to an existing power plant than to replace the plant with a carbonate fuel cell |
| Cathode material | Replacing the conventional cathode material with a LiFeO2-LiCoO2-NiO alloy has shown promising performance results and avoids the problem of Ni dissolution of the cathode |
| Electrolyte | Replacing potassium carbonate with sodium carbonate has shown to have better performance and improves the stability of the cathode |
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What You'll Learn
Molten carbonate fuel cells can reach efficiencies of 60%
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) can reach efficiencies of 60% or more. This is considerably higher than the 37-42% efficiencies of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant. When the waste heat is captured and used, overall fuel efficiencies can be as high as 85%. MCFCs are a recently developed type of fuel cell that targets small and large energy distribution/generation systems since their power production is in the 0.3-3 MW range. They operate at high temperatures, between 600 and 700 °C, which is necessary to achieve sufficient conductivity of the electrolyte.
MCFCs are not a completely green technology because they produce CO2 during the reforming of fossil fuels (methane, natural gas). However, they are promising due to their reliability and efficiency. They can also produce excess heat at a temperature that is high enough to yield high-pressure steam, which may be fed to a turbine to generate additional electricity.
In some places, MCFCs are being used in power plants alongside conventional gas turbines. This is because it is often cheaper to add a carbonate system to an existing power plant than to replace the whole plant with a carbonate fuel cell.
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They can be used to replace conventional power plants
Molten carbonate fuel cells can be used to replace conventional power plants. In some places, fuel cells are being used instead of conventional gas turbines. Carbon capture technology can be used to maintain the productivity of existing energy infrastructure while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, a 500 MW conventional power plant could be replaced by a 500 MW carbonate fuel cell that captures its own CO2. However, it is cheaper to add a 150 MW carbonate system to the existing power plant. Molten carbonate fuel cells can reach efficiencies of 60%, which is considerably higher than the 37-42% efficiencies of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant.
Recent studies have also looked into replacing the potassium carbonate in molten carbonate fuel cells with sodium carbonate. This has been shown to improve performance and the stability of the cathode. Scientists have also looked into modifying the matrix of the electrolyte to prevent issues such as phase changes.
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They can be used to capture carbon
Molten carbonate fuel cells can be used to capture carbon. In fact, they can reach efficiencies of up to 60%, which is much higher than the 37-42% efficiencies of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant.
FuelCell Energy's molten carbonate fuel cell has been touted as a possible solution to the CO2 problem. In the case of a 500 MW conventional power plant, it may be cheaper to add a 150 MW carbonate system than to replace the entire plant with a 500 MW carbonate fuel cell that captures its own CO2.
MCFCs use a liquid electrolyte (molten carbonate) which consists of a sodium (Na) and potassium (K) carbonate. Recent studies have looked into replacing the potassium carbonate with a sodium carbonate, as this has shown to have better performance and improves the stability of the cathode.
In some places, fuel cells are being used instead of conventional gas turbines.
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They can replace conventional cathode material with a LiFeO2-LiCoO2-NiO alloy
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) use a liquid electrolyte (molten carbonate) which consists of a sodium (Na) and potassium (K) carbonate. Recent studies have looked into replacing the potassium carbonate with a sodium carbonate. This is because a Li/Na electrolyte has shown to have better performance (higher conductivity) and improves the stability of the cathode when compared to a Li/K electrolyte.
Scientists have also looked into modifying the matrix of the electrolyte to prevent issues such as phase changes (γ-LiAlO2 to α-LiAlO2) in the material during cell operation. The phase change accompanies a volume decrease in the electrolyte which leads to lower ionic conductivity. Through various studies, it has been found that an alumina doped α-LiAlO2 matrix would improve the phase stability while maintaining the fuel cell's performance.
In addition, replacement of the conventional cathode material with a LiFeO2-LiCoO2-NiO alloy has shown promising performance results and almost completely avoids the problem of Ni dissolution of the cathode.
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They can replace potassium carbonate with sodium carbonate
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) use a liquid electrolyte (molten carbonate) which consists of a sodium (Na) and potassium (K) carbonate. Recent studies have delved into replacing the potassium carbonate with a sodium carbonate. This is because a Li/Na electrolyte has shown to have better performance (higher conductivity) and improves the stability of the cathode when compared to a Li/K electrolyte.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but it's probably cheaper to leave the existing equipment in place and add a carbonate system.
They can reach efficiencies of 60%, which is considerably higher than the 37-42% efficiencies of a phosphoric acid fuel cell plant.
They use a liquid electrolyte (molten carbonate) which consists of a sodium (Na) and potassium (K) carbonate.
Yes, carbon capture has the potential to maintain the productivity of the existing energy infrastructure even as consumers and regulators demand fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists have looked into modifying the matrix of the electrolyte to prevent issues such as phase changes in the material during cell operation.
