Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell anode comprising a porous anode body, which comprises a nickel-based alloy and at least one ceramic additive dispersed throughout the anode body. The amount of the ceramic additive in the anode body is between 5 and 50% by volume. The nickel-based alloy is Ni—Cr or Ni—Al, and the ceramic additive is one of CeO2, yttrium doped ceria, yttrium doped zirconia, TiO2, Li2TiO3, LiAlO2 and La0.8Sr0.2CoO3.

Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.

Abstract: A high-performance carbonate electrolyte for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte matrix and at least a cathode current collector abutting said cathode electrode, the high-performance carbonate electrolyte comprising: a first carbonate electrolyte stored in at least the cathode electrode of the molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a mixture of eutectic Li/Na carbonate electrolyte doped with one or more additive materials and one or more lithium precursors, wherein the additive materials include one or more of Rb2CO3, Cs2CO3, BaCO3, La2O3, Bi2O3, Ta2O5 and mixtures thereof, and a second carbonate electrolyte stored in at least the cathode current collector, the second carbonate electrolyte having a composition that is the same or different from the first carbonate electrolyte.

Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.

Abstract: A method of making an anode element for use in a fuel cell, comprising providing a first amount of Ni—Al alloy material having a predetermined aluminum content, providing a second amount of Ni—Cr alloy material having a predetermined chromium content, providing at least one additive component, mixing the Ni—Al alloy material, the Ni—Cr alloy material and the at least one additive component to produce a slurry and forming the slurry into the anode element.

Abstract: A caulk is provided for use in a fuel cell system having an externally manifolded fuel cell stack, forming a gas seal between a manifold gasket and the stack face. The caulk is formed of a ceramic material and a binder formed into a paste.

Abstract: A pre-processing assembly and method for processing fuel feedstock containing oxygen and hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content for a fuel cell, wherein the pre-processing assembly has a deoxidizing bed for reducing oxygen in the fuel feedstock and a pre-reforming bed for reducing higher hydrocarbon content in the fuel feedstock and wherein the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within a common reaction vessel such that the fuel feedstock first passes through the deoxidizing bed and thereafter through the pre-reforming bed. The pre-reforming assembly may further include a propane processor bed for processing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock, where the propane processor bed is disposed within the common reaction vessel with the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a delayed carbonate electrolyte is stored in the storage areas of a non-electrolyte matrix fuel cell component and is of a preselected content so as to obtain a delayed time release of the electrolyte in the storage areas in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A modular fuel cell stack assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each of the stacks having a plurality of stack faces and a plurality of stack corners formed between the stack faces, wherein the plurality of stack faces include a cathode inlet face adapted to receive oxidant gas for use in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, a cathode outlet face adapted to output cathode exhaust from the cathode side, an anode inlet face adapted to receive fuel for use in an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an anode outlet face adapted to output anode exhaust from the anode side, and wherein at least one of the cathode inlet face, cathode outlet face, anode inlet face and anode outlet face is an open face without a manifold, and a containment structure for housing the plurality of fuel cell stacks and for providing fuel and oxidant gas to said fuel cell stacks, the containment structure including at least one sealed chamber for sealingly enclosing and isolating at least one open face.

Abstract: A fuel cell including an electrolyte matrix having a cathode side with a cathode disposed thereon and an anode side with an anode receiving portion and a sealing portion positioned peripherally to the anode receiving portion. The anode receiving portion has an anode disposed thereon. A fuel conduit has one or more one sealing platforms and having an opening extending through the fuel conduit. The anode is positioned in the opening. The fuel cell includes one or more devices for preventing the occurrence an electrical short circuit between the cathode and the sealing platform. The device for preventing the electrical short circuit is aligned with the sealing portion and sealing platform and is positioned on the electrolyte matrix, the cathode and/or the sealing platform.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly including a fuel reforming unit for reforming a fuel supply for a series of fuel cells constituting a fuel cell stack. The reformed fuel supply is routed first to the anode of the fuel cell most adjacent the reforming unit, and thereafter to a manifold external to the stack. The manifold intakes that portion of the reformed fuel supply not fully exhausted after passing through the first anode and feeds such reformed fuel to successive fuel cells in series, thus providing staged fuel supply throughout the stack and optimal fuel utilization in producing electricity. The reforming unit includes a series of baffles for directing the reformed fuel supply to the first anode and to the manifold to maximize utilization of fuel consumed by cells in the stack.

Abstract: An assembly having fuel cell plate structure adapted for use in a fuel cell in which gas flow channels are arranged to carry process gas adjacent the active and wet seal areas of the fuel cell, the plate structure having one or more baffles arranged such that when the plate structure is in the fuel cell the baffles of the plate structure cause the process gas flowing adjacent the wet seal areas to be directed away from the wet seal areas and toward the active areas of the cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method in which the fuel cell system receives and an input oxidant gas and an input fuel gas, and in which a fuel processing assembly is provided and is adapted to at least humidify the input fuel gas which is to be supplied to the anode of the fuel cell of the system whose cathode receives the oxidant input gas via an anode oxidizing assembly which is adapted to couple the output of the anode of the fuel cell to the inlet of the cathode of the fuel cell during normal operation, shutdown and restart of the fuel cell system, and in which a control assembly is further provided and is adapted to respond to shutdown of the fuel cell system during which input fuel gas and input oxidant gas cease to be received by the fuel cell system, the control assembly being further adapted to, when the fuel cell system is shut down: control the fuel cell system so as to enable a purging gas to be able to flow through the fuel processing assembly to remove humidified fuel gas from the processing assembly

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell anode comprising a porous anode body, which comprises a nickel-based alloy and at least one ceramic additive dispersed throughout the anode body. The amount of the ceramic additive in the anode body is between 5 and 50% by volume. The nickel-based alloy is Ni—Cr or Ni—Al, and the ceramic additive is one of CeO2, yttrium doped ceria, yttrium doped zirconia, TiO2, Li2TiO3, LiAlO2 and La0.8Sr0.2CoO3.

Abstract: A high-lithium carbonate electrolyte formed from a eutectic carbonate mixture including lithium carbonate and from an additional lithium-containing component adapted to form lithium carbonate during at least one of initial heat up and operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An assembly having a dielectric frame which utilizes a plurality of segments, each segment having opposing first and second surfaces and first and second ends portions. Each of the first and second end portions has an end surface and a cutout extending from the end surface of the end portion along the length of the segment and from the first surface to the second surface. The segments of the frame are arranged in abutting relationship with the first surfaces of the segments aligned and the second surfaces of said segments aligned and with the end surface of a first end portion of a segment abutting the end surface of the second end portion of the adjacent segment. In this way, the cutouts of the first and second end portions of abutting segments form a keyway and a key is situated in the keyway so as to hold the abutting segments together. In accordance with the invention, certain of the segments are provided with recesses in the first surfaces of the segments adjacent the cutouts.

Abstract: A fuel supply assembly which receives a supply of liquid fuel feedstock including hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds, the higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur containing compounds being less volatile that the lower hydrocarbon content. The fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to a fuel cell assembly and has a housing unit adapted to house the liquid fuel feedstock so that the liquid fuel feedstock is subjected to vaporization conditions to allow at least a portion of the liquid fuel feedstock to vaporize to form fuel feedstock vapor, the vaporization conditions being such that the concentration of lower hydrocarbon content is higher and the concentration of higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur containing compounds is lower in the fuel feedstock vapor than in the liquid fuel feedstock.

Abstract: An integrated power production system including a fossil fuel power plant for processing fossil based fuel such as coal or natural gas arranged in tandem with a carbonate fuel cell having an anode and a cathode section. The flue gas of the power plant serves exclusively as the inlet gas for the cathode section of the fuel cell. Anode exhaust gas leaving the anode section of the fuel cell is subjected to processing including sequestration of the carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with an oxidizer assembly of a fuel cell system in which the oxidizer assembly has an oxidizing unit for oxidizing anode exhaust gas containing electrolyte particulates and is adapted or conditioned so as to enable the electrolyte particulates to be removable from the assembly and to be removed from the assembly, and wherein the conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing unit retained in the oxidizer assembly. The fuel cell system is also adapted so that such conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing assembly retained in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A method of making an anode element for use in a fuel cell, comprising providing a first amount of Ni—Al alloy material having a predetermined aluminum content, providing a second amount of Ni—Cr alloy material having a predetermined chromium content, providing at least one additive component, mixing the Ni—Al alloy material, the Ni—Cr alloy material and the at least one additive component to produce a slurry and forming the slurry into the anode element.