Basic Performance of Tubular Molten Carbonate-Type Direct Carbon Fuel Cells

Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are expected to be useful devices that effectively utilize carbon resources. We have proposed novel tubular molten carbonate-type direct carbon fuel cells (TMC-DCFCs). In this study, basic performance of TMC-DCFCs such as influence of the difference in the cathode gas and fuel on the cell performance was investigated. I-V measurements and continuous power generation tests were conducted at 1073 K. It was shown that cell performance of TMC-DCFCs was improved by increase of O2/CO2 concentration in the cathode gas. When using carbonized wood as carbon fuel, high power density over 160 mW/cm2 was obtained as well as when using activated carbon. These results suggested that the change of the carbon/carbonate ratio is permissible to some extent and a small amount of ash hardly affects the cell performance.