Dynamic simulation of direct reforming molten carbonate fuel cell system

The dynamic simulation and experimental results for a molten carbonate fuel cell power plant are discussed in this paper. Development of the simulation model was motivated by recent interest in the autonomous control of fuel cell systems as distributed sources of electric power. The model replicates a plant design that was a precursor to a 2-MW demonstration fuel cell power plant running on natural gas at the City of Santa Clara, CA, USA. Multiple arrays or "stacks" of fuel cells used to produce electricity are based on direct fuel-cell (DFC) technology that utilizes internal reforming of natural gas. Simulations illustrate the effects of both the internal reforming and cell electrochemical reactions on electrical transients.