Electrolyte distribution plays a crucial role in the performance of the molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs), and especially affects their dynamic performance because the electrolyte is redistributed as a function of load. Transients due to load changes depend strongly on the dynamics of this redistribution, which has not been investigated for lack of a realistic model. For future use in studying dynamic MCFC performance due to electrolyte redistribution, a stochastic electrolyte distribution model is developed. It offers the possibility to visualize the electrolyte distribution within the porous electrode and to generate the structural parameters for the performance model as a function of electrolyte filling level. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.