Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit configured to generate an amount of electrical power for supply to a varying electrical load and a fuel cell controller configured to receive a first indication that the varying electrical load is at a local maximum within a predetermined period, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with an operational parameter having a first value such that the fuel cell unit produces a limited maximum amount of electrical power that is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated power output of the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell controller is also configured to receive an indication that the varying electrical load has reduced, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with the operational parameter having a second value such that the fuel cell unit produces an amount of electrical power below the limited maximum amount of electrical power.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one topping fuel cell module including a topping anode portion configured to output a topping anode exhaust, and a topping cathode portion configured to output a topping cathode exhaust; at least one bottoming fuel cell module including a bottoming anode portion configured to output a bottoming anode exhaust, and a bottoming cathode portion configured to output a bottoming cathode exhaust; and an electrochemical hydrogen separation unit configured to receive at least a portion of the topping anode exhaust, to output a hydrogen-rich stream, and to output a CO2-rich stream. The bottoming anode portion is configured to receive the CO2-rich stream from the electrochemical hydrogen separation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.

Abstract: A method of making an electrolyte matrix includes: preparing a slurry comprising a support material, a coarsening inhibitor, an electrolyte material, and a solvent; and drying the slurry to form an electrolyte matrix. The support material comprises lithium aluminate, the coarsening inhibitor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of MnO2, Mn2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, Fe2O3, LiFe2O3, and mixtures thereof, and the coarsening inhibitor has a particle size of about 0.005 ?m to about 0.5 ?m.

Abstract: A high temperature electrolyzer assembly comprising at least one electrolyzer fuel cell including an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte matrix, and a power supply for applying a reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, wherein a gas feed comprising steam and one or more of CO2 and hydrocarbon fuel is fed to the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, and wherein, when the power supply applies the reverse voltage to the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell, hydrogen-containing gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the anode of the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell and carbon dioxide is separated from the hydrogen-containing gas so that the at least one electrolyzer fuel cell outputs the hydrogen-containing gas and separately outputs an oxidant gas comprising carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping fuel cell assembly including a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; a carbon dioxide separation unit that receives at least a portion of an anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion and separates the portion of the anode exhaust stream into a carbon dioxide stream and a carbon dioxide depleted stream; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly including a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion. The bottoming anode portion receives the carbon dioxide depleted stream output from the carbon dioxide separation unit. The carbon dioxide depleted stream being richer in hydrogen than the portion of the anode exhaust stream output from the topping anode portion.

Abstract: An electrolyte matrix for use with molten carbonate fuel cells having an enhanced stability and lifetime is provided. The electrolyte matrix includes lithium aluminate as a support material and a coarsening inhibitor. The coarsening inhibitor may be in the form of discrete particles or a dopant present in the support material. The coarsening inhibitor may include MnO2, Mn2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, Fe2O3, LiFe2O3, or mixtures thereof. The coarsening inhibitor prevents the formation of large pores in the electrolyte matrix during operation of the fuel cell, increasing the performance and the service lifetime of the electrolyte matrix.

Abstract: A composition for use in forming a fuel cell matrix includes a support material, an electrolyte material, and an additive material that includes a plurality of flakes having an average length in a range of 5 to 40 micrometers and an average thickness of less than 1 micrometer.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system includes a topping fuel cell assembly that includes a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion, as well as a bottoming fuel cell assembly that includes a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion. The assembly also includes a flue gas generating device configured to provide flue gas to the topping cathode portion and/or the bottoming cathode portion, and an oxidizer assembly configured to (i) oxidize anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion with air and/or oxygen to generate carbon dioxide-containing exhaust and (ii) generate waste heat for heating the flue gas before the flue gas is provided to the topping cathode portion and/or the bottoming cathode portion. A separation assembly is configured to receive the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust from the oxidizer assembly and to separate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A desulfurizer material for desulfurizing fuel supplied to a fuel cell system, the desulfurizer material comprising one or more manganese oxide materials having an octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) structure, and the desulfurizer material being resistant to moisture and being capable of removing organic sulfur containing compounds and H2S. The desulfurizer material is used in a desulfurizer assembly which is used as part of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system adapted to receive flue gas from a flue gas generating device and to capture carbon dioxide from the flue gas, the high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion, a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion, and a separation assembly configured to receive carbon dioxide-containing exhaust and to separate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust is one of anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion and a gas derived from the anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion, and wherein at least one of the topping cathode portion and the bottoming cathode portion receives at least a portion of the flue gas output from the flue gas generating device.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system adapted to receive flue gas from a flue gas generating device and to capture carbon dioxide from the flue gas, the high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion, a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion, and a separation assembly configured to receive carbon dioxide-containing exhaust and to separate carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing exhaust is one of anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion and a gas derived from the anode exhaust output from the bottoming anode portion, and wherein at least one of the topping cathode portion and the bottoming cathode portion receives at least a portion of the flue gas output from the flue gas generating device.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion and the topping cathode portion receives cathode exhaust from the bottoming cathode portion, and wherein the topping fuel cell assembly has a greater number of fuel cells than the bottoming fuel cell assembly so that the topping fuel cell assembly utilizes more fuel than the bottoming fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A high efficiency fuel cell system comprising a topping fuel cell assembly comprising a topping cathode portion and a topping anode portion; and a bottoming fuel cell assembly comprising a bottoming cathode portion and a bottoming anode portion, wherein the bottoming anode portion receives anode exhaust output from the topping anode portion and the topping cathode portion receives cathode exhaust from the bottoming cathode portion, and wherein the topping fuel cell assembly has a greater number of fuel cells than the bottoming fuel cell assembly so that the topping fuel cell assembly utilizes more fuel than the bottoming fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell matrix for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a support material and an additive material formed into a porous body, and an electrolyte material disposed in pores of the porous body, wherein the additive material is in a shape of a flake and has an average thickness of less than 1 ?m.

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.