Fuel cells are different from electrochemical cell batteries, it produces electricity from hydrogen and an oxygen. So that, fuel cells can operate virtually continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained. Fuel cell systems can be classified according to their working temperature: high temperature and ambient temperature systems. CRIEPI has been working for molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) that is one of high temperature system.

   MCFC can use many fuels such as natural gas, city gas, coal gas etc. as its fuel. These fuels are reformed either externally or internally for fuel cell use through a gas clean up system. Different system concepts have evolved around the choices for clean up, water recovery, reformer type, and operating pressure. So that, the compositions of reforming gas is different with different system concepts.

   Therefore, the performance estimation model has been developed based on a relation equation between coefficients in cathode and anode reaction resistance model and carbonate properties. Cell performance with various compositions of carbonate and gases were estimated using this model.

< Types of fuel cells >

CRIEPI has been studying about polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).

< Evaluate the actual cell performance using performance estimation model >

Analysis of impact factor of the performance is carried out efficiently, the output voltage has improved successfully.