Molten Carbonate Type Fuel Cell

This invention relates to a molten carbonate type fuel cell.

The construction of the conventional fuel cell of this type is as shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawing.

As can be seen from the drawing, the molten carbonate type fuel cell using, for example, alkali metal carbonate as an electrolyte is generally constructed with an electrolytic layer 1 composed of an electrolyte and a substance which is inactive to the electrolyte; a fuel electrode 2 and an air electrode 3, both being juxtaposed to and in contact with the electrolytic layer in a manner to sandwich the same between them; a gas chamber 7 to the side of the fuel electrode 2, which comprises a fuel electrode side current collecting plate 4 for collecting electric current from the fuel electrode, physically supporting the structural members of the cell, and causing the reactive gas to flow, a gas flow passage plate 5, and a separator 6a with its surface being opposed to the fuel electrode 2; and another gas chamber 10 to the side of the air electrode 3, which comprises an air electrode side current collecting plate 8, a gas flow passage plate 9, and a separator 6b with its surface being opposed to the air electrode 3. Heretofore, the air electrode side gas chamber 10 is constructed with stainless steel (for example, "SUS316L"). However, the corrosion-resistant property of the stainless steel is not sufficient against the electrolyte which has exuded from the electrolytic layer 1 with the consequence that the stainless steel reacts with the electrolyte to cause the main consumption of the Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 of the electrolyte. In spite of such drawback in the conventional fuel cell, the present situation is such that no sufficient measures have: been taken to solve the problem of this Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 consumption.

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation showing changes, with a lapse of time, in the quantity of the electrolyte to be consumed by its reaction with the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber 10 per effective area (1 cm.sup.2) of the electrolytic layer in the conventional fuel cell.

Since the conventional molten carbonate type fuel cell is constructed as described above, it has the problem such that the reaction between the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber and the electrolyte which has exuded from the electrolytic layer brings about consumption of the electrolyte necessary for the cell operation, whereby the battery characteristic lowers with a lapse of time. Thus, the conventional fuel cell had its own inherent problem that the above-described disadvantages should le eliminated.

The present invention has been made with a view to solving the above-mentioned problem, and aims at providing an improved molten carbonate type fuel cell with a stabilized battery characteristic over a long period of time by replenishing the electrolyte which has been consumed, and maintaining the electrolyte at a consistent composition.

According to the present invention, in general aspect of it, there is provided a molten carbonate type fuel cell comprising, in combination: an electrolytic layer 1 composed of an electrolyte and a substance which is inactive to the electrolyte; a fuel electrode 2 and an air electrode 3, both of which are juxtaposed to and in contact with the electrolytic layer in a manner to sandwich the same therebetween; a gas chamber 7 to the side of the fuel electrode 2, which is constructed with a current collecting plate 4, a gas flow passage plate 5, and a separator 6a; and another gas chamber 10 to the side of the air electrode 3, which is constructed with a current collecting plate 8, a gas flow passage plate 9, and a separator 6b, the fuel cell being characterized in that there is carried on at least one of the electrolytic layer at its side facing to the air electrode, the air electrode per se, and the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber, a lithium-containing composite oxide which brings about chemical reaction, when a ratio of lithium (Li) to potassium (K) in the electrolyte reduces, to produce Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 due to change in the ratios between lithium and other elements, during a period when the Li/K ratio between lithium and potassium in the electrolyte comprising mainly Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 and K.sub.2 CO.sub.3, varies from 40/60 to 70/30 at a temperature range of from 600.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. in a gas atmosphere of the air electrode side.

The foregoing object, other objects as well as specific construction and material used for the purpose of the present invention will be become more apparent and understandable from the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a principal part of the construction of the air electrode and the structural members for the air electrode side gas chamber of the molten carbonate type fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an overall construction of a conventional molten carbonate type fuel cell; and

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation showing a relationship between an operating time and a quantity of Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 to be consumed per 1 cm.sup.2 of the electrolytic layer in the molten carbonate type fuel cell shown in FIG. 2.

LiFeO.sub.2, as one example of the lithium-containing composite oxide to be carried on the structural members for the air electrode side gas chamber, for example, according to the present invention, brings about the following chemical reaction to produce Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3, when lithium carbonate in the fuel cell is consumed by the reaction between the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber and the electrolyte, and when the relative concentration of potassium carbonate is increased.

The thus produced Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is supplied to the electrolyte to thereby maintain the ratio of Li and K ions (Li:K) in the electrolyte at a predetermined constant value, lest the Li/K ratio becomes smaller.

In the following, one preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in reference to FIG. 1. By the way, it should be noted that, in this embodiment, use is made of LiFeO.sub.2 in granular form as the lithium-containing composite oxide, which is carried in the air electrode, and that FIG. 1 illustrates only the air electrode and the air electrode side gas chamber, of which the reference numerals 8, 9, 6b and 10 designate the same structural members as those in the conventional fuel cell shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a reference numeral 11 designates LiFeO.sub.2 grains and a numeral 12 refers to the air electrode composed of a porous body of NiO, which has contains granular LiFeO.sub.2.

The fuel cell of such construction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates in the following manner.

The electrolyte in the electrolytic layer 1 of FIG. 2 installed within the molten carbonate type fuel cell is gradually used up due to its evaporation, its wetting and spreading, or its reaction with the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber 10, and others. In this case, the major cause for the electrolyte consumption at the side of the air electrode 12 is the reaction between Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 and oxides of iron, through which Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is selectively used up. As the result of this, the ratio of Li:K in the electrolyte shifts from its initial value of 62:38 to a smaller value.

On the other hand, when use is made of 70% air and 30% carbon dioxide as the gas for the air electrode side, LiFeO.sub.2, which has been carried beforehand on the air electrode 12, reacts with CO.sub.2 in the gas for the air electrode side to discharge Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3, and this discharged Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is supplied into the electrolyte which has been deprived of Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3, to thereby maintain the ratio of Li:K at a constant value (approximately 60:40) and prevent the fuel cell from reducing its battery characteristic.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order to replenish the consumed Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 in the electrolyte and to realize the 40,000-hour operation of the fuel cell, it is necessary that Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 be supplied in a quantity of about 20 to 30 mg per 1 cm.sup.2 of the electrolytic layer. In this case, even a small amount of LiFeO.sub.2 added may exhibit an effect of feeding Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3. To meet this purpose, LiFeO.sub.2 should preferably be carried in a quantity of above 30 to 90 mg, but not exceeding 270 mg, per 1 cm.sup.2 of the electrolytic layer.

The molten carbonate type fuel cell according to this embodiment carries in its electrolytic layer 100 mg/cm.sup.2 of LiFeO.sub.2, which makes it possible to provide a long service life which is higher by about 30% than those conventional molen carbonate type fuel cells not containing therein such lithium-containing composite oxide.

While, in the above-described embodiment, LiFeO.sub.2 11 is carried on the air electrode 12, the present invention is not limited to this mode of carrying the lithium-containing composite oxide, but it may also be carried on the electrolytic layer at its side facing to the air electrode 12, or on the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber 10, such as on the current collecting plate 8, with the same resulting effect as in the above-described embodiment.

As for the lithium-containing composite oxides, there may also be used those, in which a part of Fe in LiFeO.sub.2 is substituted with any one or combination of Mg, Ni, Cu, Al, and Cr, again with the same resulting effect as in the above described embodiment.

As has so far been described, since the present invention is so constructed that a lithium-containing composite oxide which brings about chemical reaction, when a ratio of lithium (Li) to potassium (K) in the electrolyte reduces, to produce Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 due to change in the ratios between lithium and other elements, during a period when the ratio between lithium and potassium varies from 40:60 to 70:30 at a temperature range of from 600.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. in a gas atmosphere of the air electrode side, is carried in at least one of the following relationships on or in the electrolytic layer at its side facing to the air electrode, in the air electrode per se, and on the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber, there accrues a remarkable effect such that lithium can be replenished depending on the degree of consumption of lithium in the electrolyte to thereby maintain constant the composition of the electrolyte, and that the battery characteristic can be maintained over a longer period of time for the reliable battery operation.

Although, in the foregoing, the present invention has been described with specific details with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to this embodiment alone, but any changes and modifications may be made by those persons skilled in the art to the material used and the structure of the fuel cell without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.