Anode exhaust processing for molten carbonate fuel cells

A method for producing electricity using a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode, the method comprising:

• operating the molten carbonate fuel cell with a cathode input stream comprising CO2, O2, and 2.0 vol % or more of H2O to generate i) electricity at a current density of 120 mA/cm2 or more, ii) an anode exhaust comprising 5.0 vol % or more H2, the anode exhaust further comprising CH4, CO, and CO2, and iii) a cathode exhaust comprising 1.0 vol % or less CO2, 2.0 vol % or more H2O, and 1.0 vol % or more O2;
• and
• oxidizing at least a portion of the H2, CH4, and CO in the anode exhaust in the presence of a metal oxide oxidizer,
• wherein the molten carbonate fuel cell is operated at a transference of 0.95 or less.

A method for producing electricity using a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode, the method comprising:

• operating the molten carbonate fuel cell with a cathode input stream comprising CO2, O2, and 2.0 vol % or more of H2O to generate i) electricity at a current density of 120 mA/cm2 or more, ii) an anode exhaust comprising 5.0 vol % or more H2, the anode exhaust further comprising CO, and CO2, and iii) a cathode exhaust comprising 1.0 vol % or less CO2, 2.0 vol % or more H2O, and 1.0 vol % or more O2;
• and
• oxidizing at least a portion of the H2 and CO in the anode exhaust in the presence of a metal oxide oxidizer,
• wherein the molten carbonate fuel cell is operated at a transference of 0.95 or less,
• wherein at least a portion of the metal oxide oxidizer is converted into metal, a reduced oxidation state metal oxide, or a combination thereof, the method further comprising oxidizing at least a portion of the converted metal, reduced oxidation state metal oxide, or a combination thereof to form the metal oxide oxidizer, and
• wherein the at least a portion of the converted metal, reduced oxidation state metal oxide, or a combination thereof is oxidized using O2 from at least a portion of the cathode exhaust.