Electrolyte Management in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

Maintaining an optimum electrolyte inventory in the active components of a molten carbonate fuel cell is an important design consideration. Electrolyte losses from the cell may be caused by vaporization, corrosion, creepage, and potential driven migration. Components of several single cells operated for up to 10,000 hr have been analyzed in detail to provide quantitative data for the relative magnitudes of these losses. Corrosion and creepage related losses account for a significant portion of the loss from the active components. Both of these losses are proportional to square root of time. Vapor phase losses, as measured by a through scrubbing of gases and ducts appear to be relatively small.