Carbon Oxidation With Electrically Insulated Carbon Fuel in A Coin Type Direct Carbon Fuel Cell

Electrically insulated carbon fuel, called cartridge fuel here, was employed in a coin type direct carbon fuel cell, which was assembled using molten carbonate fuel cell technology. The cartridge fuel was comprised of solid carbon and carbonate mixtures filling an alumina tube. Both ends of the tube were sealed with Ni mesh through which gas was able to penetrate. However, the meshes were installed inside the tube, forming an electrically insulated fuel cartridge. The cartridge fuel showed very similar performance to normal powder fuel, indicating that carbon oxidation took place through the intermediate gas species of carbon monoxide. Also, solid carbons were manufactured from oak at 400, 800, and 1,200?degrees C. The carbon that was carbonized at lower temperature showed higher open circuit voltage and performance. The difference between the carbon species results in a performance variation due to varying generation of CO.