Abstract: The present invention relates to a new strategy against the electrolyte migration through the gasket in externally manifolded MCFC stacks. This is obtained by endowing a stack of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) of an electrolyte management tool separated from the cells by an electronically conductive material which is impervious to gas, characterized by the combination of the following elements:—a positive reservoir component external to the cathode of the first cell on the positive side of the battery, wherein said reservoir consists of one ore more porous layers of electronically conductive material and comprises at least one gas distributor, and—a negative reservoir component external to the anode of the last cell on the negative side of the battery, wherein said reservoir consists of one ore more porous layers of electronically conductive material.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell System in which the fuel cell stack(s) is (are) enclosed within a containment vessel and in which a burner exhaust is used to control the system operating pressure is described. Moreover, highly reliable, simple and low-cost differential pressure control method never affected by service interruption or troubles in control valves or other components is disclosed. Excluding differential control valves and reducing the cost by guiding the anode, cathode and vessel exhaust gases to the inlet of a catalytic burner forward the containment vessel and mixed therein so that the pressure of these gases are equal to each other, this fuel cell system guarantees dynamic pressure balancing between the vessel and reactants to prevent leakage of the reactants from the fuel cell stack and avoid an excessive differential pressure between the fuel cell and the vessel and between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell system in which the fuel cell stack(s) is (are) enclosed within a containment vessel and in which a burner exhaust is used to control the system operating pressure is described. Moreover, highly reliable, simple and low-cost differential pressure control method never affected by service interruption or troubles in control valves or other components is disclosed. Excluding differential control valves and reducing the cost by guiding the anode, cathode and vessel exhaust gases to the inlet of a catalytic burner forward the containment vessel and mixed therein so that the pressure of these gases are equal to each other, this fuel cell system guarantees dynamic pressure balancing between the vessel and reactants to prevent leakage of the reactants from the fuel cell stack and avoid an excessive differential pressure between the fuel cell and the vessel and between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell separator plate comprising at least one separator sheet and at least one flange suitable to be fixed on the side of the separator sheet by means of shape-coupling. The invention also relates to a fuel cell comprising said separator sheet, preferably a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). The invention also relates to a stack of these fuel cells being electrically coupled to each other.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell System in which the fuel cell stack(s) is (are) enclosed within a containment vessel and in which a burner exhaust is used to control the system operating pressure is described. Moreover, highly reliable, simple and low-cost differential pressure control method never affected by service interruption or troubles in control valves or other components is disclosed. Excluding differential control valves and reducing the cost by guiding the anode, cathode and vessel exhaust gases to the inlet of a catalytic burner forward the containment vessel and mixed therein so that the pressure of these gases are equal to each other, this fuel cell system guarantees dynamic pressure balancing between the vessel and reactants to prevent leakage of the reactants from the fuel cell stack and avoid an excessive differential pressure between the fuel cell and the vessel and between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolytic mixture for molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). The carrier solution is constituted by one or more organic solvents and water, with an organic solvent percentage comprised of between 5% and 80%. The electrolyte consists of a mixture of Li2CO3 and LiKCO3 in such stoichiometric ratios as to give the Li2CO3/K2CO3 62/38 eutectic mixture. The compound LiKCO3 has a solubility in water, like lithium carbonate, less than that of the potassium carbonate, which is normally found in MCFC electrolytic mixtures. This allows the resolution of the problem of electrolyte loss during the operation of the cell, due to the solubilisation of the same in water.