Effect of gas composition produced by gasification, on the performance and durability of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)

Abstract

Utilization of biomass using gasification technology combined with Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC), is an option to solve fossil fuels and environmental pollution problem. Various types of biomass give different composition of the gas produced by gasification process and indirectly affect the performance and durability of MCFC.This research is focused on determination of gas composition produced by gasification process (CO, CO2, H2 and N2) that gives optimum performance and durability of MCFC either in dry or wet condition. Using mixture design method, the gas composition supplied to MCFC anode is varied in the range of 14%–25% for CO, 9%–17% for H2, 10%–20% for CO2, and 51%–58% for N2. The effect of feed gas composition on the performance and durability of MCFC is characterized by using potentiodynamic method and accelerated load cycle method respectively. SEM and XRD is used in this study to evaluate gas composition effect on MCFC anode morphology.Based on experiments that are carried out, the optimum result is obtained by using syn-gas from coconut shell gasification with composition of 25% CO, 12% H2, 10% CO2 and 53% N2 in wet condition. Electrical power of 0.13 W is generated within 228 days of durability or it is decreased by 135 mV/1000 h or 16% (v/v)/1000 h.