Diffusive resistance analysis in fuel cells - Part 2. Some methods and examples

In the first part of this work a rationalisation and a generalisation of the approach to the analysis of the diffusive resistances in laboratory-scale fuel cells and electrodes was recommended and some interpretation tools for the purpose were suggested and some simple reference cases discussed. This second part is mainly devoted to some applications to experimental data. In particular, some sets of experimental data from Ansaldo Fuel Cells laboratories are examined. The data regard molten carbonate fuel cells at a 10 cm x 10 cm laboratory scale; a first set of data was obtained under constant current and changing utilisation factor conditions: the second under limit current conditions. The analysis indicated that the cathodic diffusive resistances are not important and the anodic ones, when correctly determined, do not depend on the anodic gas flow rate, but are likely to be localised in the liquid phase. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.