PURPOSE: To significantly enhance the reactivity of a hydrocarbon such as propane, and remarkably extend cell operating time by providing a reduction in contamination and poisoning by a carbonate of catalyst, the protection of the catalyst, and extension of the catalyst life.
CONSTITUTION: A direct internal reformed type molten carbonate fuel cell has an internal reforming catalyst 2 arranged in the fuel gas passage groove of a separator 3 through a protector 1. The protectors of the catalyst include a foil or sheet which may be porous, mesh or net body of a metal or alloy never familiar to a molten carbonate of electrolyte such that the material is never or hardly wetted by the molten carbonate, for example, Ni, Co, Au, Cu, Ag, platinum group elements and alloys thereof, which further has a structure as never preventing the reaction between a fuel gas simultaneously reformed by a catalyst so as not to damage cell reaction and an electrode 4, advantageously, the structure where the electrode side is opened, for example, the structure of a dish shape, U-shape, or ship shape, and particularly, an Ni mesh is preferably used.
IIJIMA MASAHIKO
TAGA KAYO
SAIAI AKIRA
SAKURADA SATOSHI
PETROLEUM ENERGY CENTER FOUND