Lifetime analysis method for molten carbonate fuel cell stacks

For practical use of the electric power generation system by the molten carbonate fuel cell, a lifetime of over 40000 hours is required. The stack performance degradation must be understood to achieve a longer lifetime. distribution has been developed. The stack lifetime model Is constructed by the combination of the lifetime analysis with uniform temperature and the analysis of temperature distribution for the stack. The analysis of Lifetime for a stack was carried out for the 3200 cm(2) class stack with the cross flow type and the co - flow type under the plant condition The highest temperature in the cross flow type stack is about 30 degrees C higher than that in the co - flow type stack at initial stage under the same operating conditions. The average temperature and the stack voltage of the cross flow type stack are almost same to those of the co - flow type stack for all operation time. Then, the typical temperature for the expression of the stack performance will be the average temperature regardless the flow type.