Effects of water-gas shift reaction on simulated performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell

A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) is simulated. In order to determine the effects of the water-gas shift reaction, the calculated results such as temperature distribution, voltage distribution, conversion and performance, are compared with those calculated excluding the shift reaction. Uniformity in the temperature profile is deteriorated due to the shift reaction. At the entrance, hydrogen is consumed rapidly in order to reach the equilibrium state of the shift reaction. The conversion of hydrogen decreases along the direction of gas flow because of hydrogen generated by the shift reaction. Therefore, when the shift reaction is excluded, the conversion of hydrogen is higher than that in a practical cell. Additionally, at the same current density, the voltage calculated without the shift reaction would be higher than the real value. The effect of the shift reaction on the voltage distribution and cell performances is quite small. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.