Provided is a carbon dioxide electrolysis-carbon deposition/carbon fuel cell-integrated apparatus which enable interconversion between electric energy and chemical energy (electrodeposited carbon) through the use of an integrated electrochemical reaction system with a molten salt.

A binder solution for an electrolyte matrix for use with molten carbonate fuel cells is provided. The binder solution includes a first polymer with a molecular weight of less than about 150,000 and a second binder with a molecular weight of greater than about 200,000. The binder solution produces an electrolyte matrix with improved flexibility, matrix particle packing density, strength, and pore structure.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an industrially advantageous method for producing α-lithium aluminate which has physical properties that are suitable for use as an electrolyte holding plate of a MCFC having excellent thermal stability, even if the α-lithium aluminate is a fine material having a BET specific surface area of 10 m.sup.2/g or higher in particular. Provided is a method for producing α-lithium aluminate characterized by subjecting a mixture (a), which is obtained by mixing transitional alumina and lithium carbonate at an Al/Li molar ratio of 0.95-1.01, to a first firing reaction so as to obtain a fired product, and subjecting a mixture (b), which is obtained by adding an aluminum compound to the obtained fired product at quantities whereby the molar ratio of aluminum atoms in the aluminum compound relative to lithium atoms in the fired product (Al/Li) is 0.001-0.05, to a second firing reaction.

A fuel cell stack module includes a plurality of fuel cell stacks, a base supporting the plurality of fuel cell stacks, and a metal shell located over the base and the fuel cell stacks. The metal shell contains an integrated heat exchanger.

A reformer assembly includes a vortex tube receiving heated fuel mixed with steam. A catalyst coats the inner wall of the main tube of the vortex tube and a hydrogen-permeable tube is positioned in the middle of the main tube coaxially with the main tube. With this structure the vortex tube outputs primarily Hydrogen from one end and Carbon-based constituents from the other end. In some embodiments a second vortex tube receives the Carbon output of the first vortex tube to establish a water gas shift reactor, producing Hydrogen from the Carbon output of the first vortex tube.

A reformer is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a channel to convey a preheated plurality of reactants containing both a feedstock fuel and an oxidant. A plasma generator is provided to apply an electrical potential to the reactants sufficient to ionize one or more of the reactants. These ionized reactants are then conveyed to a reaction zone where they are chemically transformed into synthesis gas containing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A heat transfer mechanism is used to transfer heat from an external heat source to the reformer to provide the heat of reformation.

Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO.sub.2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO.sub.2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.

Systems and methods are provided for incorporating molten carbonate fuel cells into a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG) for production of electrical power while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO.sub.2 present in the flue gas exiting the HRSG. An optionally multi-layer screen or wall of molten carbonate fuel cells can be inserted into the HRSG so that the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells substantially fills the cross-sectional area. By using the walls of the HRSG and the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells to form a cathode input manifold, the overall amount of duct or flow passages associated with the MCFCs can be reduced.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell at increased fuel utilization and/or increased CO.sub.2 utilization. This can be accomplished in part by performing an effective amount of an endothermic reaction within the fuel cell stack in an integrated manner. This can allow for a desired temperature differential to be maintained within the fuel cell.

A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having a first anode and a first cathode, wherein the first anode is configured to output a first anode exhaust gas. The system further includes a first oxidizer configured to receive the first anode exhaust gas and air from a first air supply, to react the first anode exhaust gas and the air in a preferential oxidation reaction, and to output an oxidized gas. The system further includes a second fuel cell configured to act as an electrochemical hydrogen separator. The second fuel cell includes a second anode configured to receive the oxidized gas from the first oxidizer and to output a second anode exhaust gas, and a second cathode configured to output a hydrogen stream. The system further includes a condenser configured to receive the second anode exhaust gas and to separate water and CO.sub.2.