The aim of this work is to develop a semi-empirical model of the kinetics of MCFCs for laboratory and industrial simulation. The rigorous theoretical approach takes into account the polarisation due to chemical as well as physical phenomena, but the number of parameters to be identified in the kinetic formulation has been reduced to the minimum in order to obtain an effective and accurate but, nevertheless, simplified instrument. Validation has been performed thanks to experimental tests carried out at the Fuel Cell Centre laboratories of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) using 100 cm(2) single cell facilities. I-V curves, EIS and gas analyses have furthermore been carried out to support the investigation. A method for the parameter identification has been proposed on the basis of temperature, partial pressures and current density effects on performance. Both experimental and theoretical results will be discussed in detail, presenting the resulting simulation tool as an effective instrument for the design, optimisation of operating conditions, diagnosis and control of MCFC devices. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.