Abstract: This work presented a onedimensional mathematical model for molten carbonate fuel cell(MCFC) based on mass, energy and momentum conservation principles and thermodynamic properties. Using the VR modeling technique the partial differential equations can be changed to ordinary differential equations which meet the quick simulation. The electrochemical reactions are considered in the model, and the characteristics of distributed parameters are shown. Some experiments were carried out, and the performance of the MCFC at a certain condition was analyzed using the model. A good agreement between the simulation and experimental results is presented, which shows the feasibility of using the volumeresistance characteristic model to reflect the molten carbonate fuel cell characteristics.