Transport of Electrolyte in Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

The transport of electrolyte in molten carbonate fuel cell stacks was theoretically and experimentally investigated. The electrolyte was found to migrate from the end of a stack which is more positive in potential toward the end which is more negative due to the relative movement of the ionic species in the electrolyte. The potassium ion mobility was found to be higher than that of the lithium ion, resulting in a depletion in potassium concentration at the positive end and an increase at the negative end. The transport can be reduced to an acceptable level by the use of manifold gaskets that result in smaller shunt currents.