(575a) The Characterization of Catalyst for Internal Reforming Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell

Thermal stability of the Internal Reforming Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (IR-MCFC) stack is one of the most important variables to be controlled for long term operation. Generally, the internal reforming catalyst loading pattern can manage stack's thermal distribution because the endothermic reaction of the steam reforming can remove partially heat generated by electrochemical reaction during stack operation. Therefore, the internal reforming catalyst loading pattern has to be decided to minimize of thermal stress distribution of stack and to obtain uniform temperature distribution. The aim of this work is to study the intrinsic kinetics of stream reforming reaction, accompanied by the reverse water gas shift reaction over a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, and this performance decay rate for simulation and optimal design of IR-MCFC stack. The main reactions involved in methane steam reforming have been analyzed thermodynamically. A reaction mechanism for methane steam reforming is proposed, and kinetic rate equations have been developed by using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood approach and Freundlich's adsorption concept. The column cell type micro reactor was used to study the mechanism and the kinetics of the catalysts under wide ranges of temperature, steam to carbon ratio and pressure conditions. And the single cell test was also used to predict and verify the performances of the catalysts.