The Effects of H[sub 2]S on Electrolyte Distribution and Cell Performance in the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of H 2 S on the performance of molten carbonate fuel cells, bench-scale cell tests were performed and the meniscus heights of the electrolyte on Ni were measured with fuel gases containing various amounts of H 2 S. In bench-scale cell tests, H 2 S in the fuel gas had a large effect on cell voltage in the early operating stages, but this effect showed a tendency to decrease with operating time. Basic wetting property measurements revealed that Ni becomes better wetted at higher H 2 S concentrations. In calculations of the electrolyte distributions, the electrolyte fill of the anode with H 2 S was found to be higher than that without H 2 S. This study simulates the electrolyte distributions taking into account the effects of H 2 S levels, the electrolyte loss and the change in pore size distributions of the electrodes, and discusses the relation between electrolyte distribution and cell performance.