Molten distributed generation

New systems for molten carbonate fuel cell of low cost for distributed generation. Activity leader University of Perugia. Estimated activity cost 10.8 million. 

Starwood faced utility efforts in 2003 to block the installation of a 250-kW molten carbonate fuel cell in a New York hotel. It overcame these efforts mainly because the system represented only 10% of the hotel s total power. These barriers have been described as a battle between distributed generation and the local utility. 

The molten carbonate fuel cell systems have mie of the highest energy conversion efficiency systems for distributed generation, and reliability is improving. Furthermore, they are free from rare elements such as noble metals and rare earth metals. Therefore, further effort and support to improve reliability and market entry will be required for real commercialization. 

Williams MC, Mam HC (2006) Distributed generation—Molten carbonate fuel cells. J Power Sources 160 866-867... 

Williams M. C., H. C. Mam, Distributed generation-molten carbonated fuel cells, 7. Power Sources, 160, 863 (2006). 

Merzhanov et al. stated in the latter case that the heat transfer in molten tetryl was performed by convection only, because molten tetryl was stirred vigorously by means of a piston stirrer, so that, while the temperature distribution in molten tetryl was uniform, the temperature gradient was present only in the vessel wall [40]. On the other hand, the balance between the rate of heat generation in a liquid and the rate of heat transfer from the liquid to the atmosphere at the critical state for the thermal explosion which exists at the end of the early stages of the selfheating process, is dealt with in the approach adopted herein with regard to the thermal explosion of the liquid. The latter orthodox approach to the thermal explosion of every liquid has thus no concern with any convective flow in liquids. 

Molten carbonate fuel cell systems can attain electrical efficiencies of at least 50% or up to 70% when combining the fuel cell with other power generators. MCFCs can operate on a wide range of different fuels and are not prone to CO or CO2 contamination as is the case for low-temperature cells. For stationary power, MCFCs could play an important role in distributed power generation. 

Partial fluorination is achieved by electrolysis in molten KF-2HF in the Phillips process at porous carbon electrodes. The process is thought to involve the electrochemical generation of elemental fluorine and its radical reaction with the substrate within the pores of the anode. Hydrocarbons, acid fluorides and esters are partially fluorinated with a statistical distribution of the fluoride in the alkyl chain and in current efficiencies between 80-100%. 

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