(Invited) Key Contributions by Dr. H. Russel Kunz in the Fundamental Understanding of Carbonate Fuel Cells

Abstract

Carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) has progressed since 1960s and matured to a single full-size commercial stack capable of producing 350kW net AC power and 5-year service life. Several research teams worldwide have advanced on the MCFC technology over the past five decades. Among those efforts, contributions by Dr. H. Russell Kunz clearly stand out both in terms of the breadth of areas addressed and the simplicity of the mathematical treatment. Dr. Kunz, at UTC/IFC until his retirement in 1992, made significant contributions on both fundamental understandings and practical solutions in terms of electrochemical performance, cathode stability and electrolyte management, all essential to MCFC stack performance and endurance. This review paper will summarize the fundamental challenges and current state of the MCFC technology and the important contributions by Dr. Kunz.