The Use of Recycled Catalyst for the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Fueled by Methane

Abstract This article describes an experimental study and mathematical modeling of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) powered by methane thanks to the use of a recycled catalyst in the anode channel of the cell. The catalyst was created from production residues from the electrodes of the molten carbonate fuel cell. The reforming process will also take place at the anode of the cell itself, but thanks to the use of an additional catalyst, we will obtain a larger surface on which the reforming process will take place. Two mathematical models working together were created: the fuel cell model (reduced-order model) and the reforming process model (kinetic model). Four values of the steam-to-carbon ratio (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5) were considered. The performance of the fuel cell was also tested for different methane flows to determine the flow at which benefits are achieved in relation to the cell without additional catalyst. The current–voltage curve for the MCFC fuel cell powered by methane and steam (S/C = 2) at the temperature of 700 °C and with the use of the catalyst runs well above the curve for the cell without a catalyst. This indicates a noticeable positive effect of the recycled catalyst on the performance of the fuel cell powered by methane and steam. Despite partially successful experimental studies, it should be emphasized that the temperature of 700 °C is insufficient for pure nickel to act effectively as a catalyst for the methane steam reforming process.