Abstract:
PURPOSE: A fuel electrode for a molten carbonate fuel cell and a molten carbonate fuel cell containing the electrode are provided, to inhibit the deterioration of the performance of fuel cell due to the cracking of an electrolyte matrix and the increase of polarization of fuel cell and to lower the manufacturing cost. CONSTITUTION: The fuel electrode is prepared by mixing at least one reinforcing powder selected from the group consisting of a Ni-containing metal mixture, a Ni-containing alloy and a Ni-containing metal compound for improving the resistance against sintering and compression molding during the operation of a fuel electrode, and a pure Ni or Cu powder for improving the sintering property. Preferably the content of the reinforcing powder is 30-70 vol%.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A gas supply apparatus for the operation of a fuel cell is provided, to allow the apparatus to be operated under a high pressure, the humidification state of the gas supplied to a fuel cell to be controlled easily and the water necessary for the humidification to be supplemented even during operation. CONSTITUTION: The gas supply apparatus supplies the reaction gas to a fuel cell after humidifying the reaction gas supplied from a gas source in a humidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a container(30) receiving the reaction gas and humidifying it by using water; a humidifier gas supply pipe(13) whose one side is inserted into the container to supply the reaction gas to be humidified; a water supply pipe(33) supplying the water to be used for humidifying the reaction gas to the container; and a fuel cell gas supply pipe(15) connected with the container to supply the humidified reaction gas to a fuel cell. Preferably a detachable jacket-shaped container heater(35) is set at the outer circumference of the container for humidifying the reaction gas by heating; and a water supplement valve(34) is set at the water supply pipe.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A porous gas distribution plate for a small fuel cell which can be formed in the shape of a sheet maintaining suitable physical strength is provided. A metal separation plate comprising the gas distribution plate is also provided. CONSTITUTION: The porous gas distribution plate for a small fuel cell comprises a metal plate through which a number of holes(130) having a diameter less than 2 mm are formed by etching. One side of the metal plate is flat while fine gas channels(120) having a depth less than 0.6 mm and a width less than 2 mm are formed on the other side with separating by a constant distance less than 2 mm. The small fuel cell comprising the separation plate formed from the gas distribution plate has improved output density, confidence and low manufacturing costs.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Provided is an anode which has the inner surface of pore coated with porous ceramic film, shows improved wettability to electrolyte, and prevents the consumption of electrolyte, and thus can stably retain an excellent capability of battery when the battery works for a long time. CONSTITUTION: The anode for molten carbonate fuel cell comprising an anode, an electrolyte and a cathode, is characterized in that the anode has pore side coated with porous ceramic film. The anode consists of any one selected from the group consisting of pure Ni, Ni-containing metal mixture, Ni-containing alloy, and Ni-containing metal compound. The porous ceramic film is formed from any sol selected from the group Al oxide, Ce oxide, Zr oxide, Al hydroxide, Ce-hydroxide, and Zr hydroxide. The porous ceramic film is formed by sol gel process comprising the steps of impregnating the anode with ceramic sol and drying the anode.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Provided are an easy and fast process for producing an electrode for a fuel cell having high catalyst utilization rate and performance and performance reproducibility, and the electrode produced by using the process. CONSTITUTION: The process for producing the electrode for the fuel cell contains the steps of: forming a carbon layer(12) on a support(13) for the electrode by screen printing, wherein the carbon layer(12) uses a carbon slurry produced by using carbon powder having a particle size of 10-2000nm, teflon suspension as an adhesive agent, glycerol as a thickener, and a solvent such as water, isopropyl alcohol, or ethanol; forming a catalyst layer(11) on the carbon layer(12) by screen printing, wherein the catalyst layer(11) uses a catalyst slurry produced by using a catalyst having a particle size of 10-2000nm, an ionomer as an adhesive agent, glycerol as a thickener, and a solvent such as water, isopropyl alcohol, or ethanol.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A direct interior-modified melt carbonate fuel cell is provided, which is provided with a carbonate blocking membrane to increase the lifetime and to improve the efficiency without the increase of internal resistance and the consumption of carbonate. CONSTITUTION: The melt carbonate fuel cell comprises a carbonate blocking membrane which is made of nickel or nickel-containing alloy and blocks the delivery of the hydroxide vapor converted from the carbonate vapor or the carbonates into a catalyst, between a fuel electrode and an interior-modified catalyst layer. Preferably the carbonate blocking membrane contains pores whose mean pore size is 0.01-10 micrometers, by the degree of 30-90 %, and has the thickness of 0.1-1 mm. The carbonate blocking membrane is prepared by coating nickel or nickel-containing alloy on the surface of porous inorganic carrier selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Provided are a process for producing a Li/Na electrolyte green sheet for a molten carbonate fuel cell(MCFC) and a method for pretreating and operating the MCFC containing the Li/Na electrolyte. CONSTITUTION: The Li/Na electrolyte green sheet is produced by the process comprising the steps of: ball-milling 100pts.wt. of a carbonate mixture powder comprising Li2CO3 and Na2CO3, 10-20pts.wt. of a binder, 10-20pts.wt. of a plasticizer, 1-2pts.wt. of a dispersing agent, 1-2pts.wt. of an antifoaming agent, and 50-100pts.wt. of ethanol solvent to prepare powdery slurry; tape-casting the powdery slurry; drying at a temperature of 40-90 deg.C. The method for pretreating and operating the MCFC containing the Li/Na electrolyte includes the steps of: supplying air at an ordinary temperature-300 deg.C, a mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and 5M of hydrogen at 300-650 deg.C, and a mixture gas comprising the hydrogen, the carbon dioxide, and steam after the temperature reaches 650 deg.C to an anode of the MCFC; supplying the air at an ordinary temperature-450 deg.C, inert gas or a mixture gas containing the inert gas and less than 10M of the hydrogen at 450-650 deg.C, and a mixture gas comprising the air and the carbon dioxide after the temperature reaches 650 deg.C to a cathode of the MCFC.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A ceramic fiber-reinforced matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the same are provided which restrains cracks of matrix due to the thermal cycling that can be generated during the long term running of the molten carbonate fuel cell and the resulting deterioration of the cell. CONSTITUTION: The method for manufacturing the fiber-reinforced matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell comprises the steps of preparing a slurry by ball milling the mixture after mixing LiAlO2 powder, dispersant, antifoaming agent and solvent; adding binder, plasticizer and ceramic fiber to the prepared slurry, mixing the materials, and ball milling the mixture; degassing the ball milled slurry; and drying after molding the degassed slurry in a tape casting process, wherein the LiAlO2 powder is selected from the group consisting of γ-LiAlO2, β-LiAlO2 and α-Al2O3, the LiAlO2 powder is a mixture of LiAlO2 HSA (high surface area) having a size of 5 microns or less and LiAlO2 LSA (low surface area) having a size of 10 microns or less, and the LSA is 10 to 30 weight parts based on the 100 weight parts of fiber and powder, wherein the ceramic fiber is selected from the group consisting of α-Al2O3, γ-LiAlO2, β-LiAlO2, α-LiAlO2, LiZrO3, Y2O3 stabilized ZrO3, LiTaO3, LiNbO3 and CeO2, and used in an amount of 5 to 20 weight parts based on 100 weight parts of powder and fiber, and wherein 10 to 40 weight parts of binder, 10 to 40 weight parts of plasticizer, 1 to 5 weight parts of antifoaming agent, 1 to 2 weight parts of dispersant and 150 to 250 weight parts of solvent are used based on 100 weight parts of powder and fiber.
Abstract:
Process for coating nitride or silicone oxide on a graphite laboratory vessel for a high temperature by a chemical vapor deposition is described. Thus, the process is composed of i)building a graphite in a shape they want, ii)coating the formed graphite by using SiH4/H2 gas at 250-400 deg.C at 1-10 Torr in a low pressure chemical vapor deposition reactor to give silicon oxide film or by using SiH4/H2/NH3 gas at 300-400 deg.C in 0.1-0.5 Torr at 50-100 W of electric power in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor to give silicon nitride film, iii)heat processing in nitrogen or oxygen atmosphere at 600-900 deg.C for 1 hr.