A study of heat and material balances in an internal-reforming molten carbonate fuel cell

A study is made of the heat and material balances in internal-reforming, molten carbonate fuel cells. A 5 kW class, indirect internal-reforming molten carbonate fuel cell stack together with a 10 kW class, direct internal-reforming molten carbonate fuel cell stack have been assembled and tested to evaluate the performance, and to obtain basic data on the material and heat balances, in order to assist system design. The input and output heat flux of the stacks are obtained independently, and are in good agreement. Using these procedures, it will be possible to improve the design of internal-reforming, molten carbonate fuel cell systems for co-generation.