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Introduction World economy at present relies on burning fossil fuels to produce affordable energy. A consequence of the use of these fuels is the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere creating environmental problems such as global climate warming. In the near future, if CO2 emission regulations are enforced, industry will require improved technologies for the effic...

The characteristics and properties of mixtures of a borosilicate glass and ZrO2 fibres obtained from compacts isothermally sintered are presented. Three different particle sizes of glass powder and different sintering temperatures and times have been used to reveal the influence of the specific surface area and the glass matrix viscosity on sintering. The fundamental developed aspects are the s...

Hydrogen, presently, finds application as a chemical rather than a fuel in commercial operations. However, being a non-polluting source of energy, hydrogen is predicted to be the ‘‘fuel of the future’’. One of the most potential applications for hydrogen is to power fuel cells. Major automobile manufacturers are currently working towards developing fuel cell vehicles; such vehicles are expected...

A nickel catalyst to be used for internal steam reforming in a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) must be resistant to the alkali components (Li and K species) of the electrolyte; these components can reach the catalyst from the anode by either transport via the vapor phase or by means of surface creep along the walls. In a series of experiments for determining the rates of transport, it was fou...

This work studies mathematical issues associated with steady-state modelling of diffusion-reaction-conduction processes in an electrolyte wedge (meniscus corner) of a current-producing porous electrode. The discussion is applicable to various electrodes where the rate-determining reaction occurs at the electrolyte-solid interface; molten carbonate fuel cell cathodes are used as a specific examp...

Emergy indicators of the industrial production and pilot-plant operation of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) are presented, as a continuation of ongoing research on Hydrogen-based technologies. MCFCs are very likely to shortly reach the commercialization phase, as a result of the recent intense efforts in the development of innovative ceramic components (anode, cathode and matrix), as well as...