INITIAL STARTING PROCESS FOR CELL WITH MOLTEN CARBONATE ELECTROLYTE Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: fuel cells with molten carbonate electrolyte and power plants built around them. SUBSTANCE: fuel cell initial starting process involves its assembly and installation of spacers between components interlaid with electrolyte-containing element without bracing fuel cell with carbonate electrolyte, heating of the latter from initial temperature to melting point of electrolyte in electrolyte-containing element, removal of spacers, final assembly of fuel cell with carbonate electrolyte by applying specified pressure. Spacers are made of material whose melting point is higher than that of electrolyte by 30-150 C. Spacers are removed by melting them while heating fuel cell with carbonate electrolyte to temperature exceeding electrolyte melting point. Spacer composition may be doped with 65-90 mol percent of lithium carbonate or 5-15 mol percent of magnesium carbonate. Spacer may be made of material whose melting point is higher than that of binary eutectic mixture of lithium and potassium carbonates. EFFECT: improved operating reliability of fuel cell due to its improved sealing and preventing loss of electrolyte. 6 cl, 4 dwg