Anode catalysts for the hydrocarbon and carbon solid oxide fuel cell

FUEL 199

Steven S. C. Chuang, chuang@uakron.edu, James Fisher II, Zhiqiang Yu, and Felipe Guzman. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3906
The direct use of hydrocarbon and carbon-based fuels in the SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) could offer significant advantages: (i) elimination of a complicated reformer unit1, (ii) the production of a nearly pure CO2 exhaust stream for the direct CO2 sequestration and (iii) low investment and maintenance cost due to the simplicity of the process. Development of an effective catalyst for the hydrocarbon and carbon SOFC requires a fundamental understanding of the mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation of hydrocarbon and coke on the anode catalyst surface. This presentation will report results of a transient kinetic study of CH4 and propane as well as coal on a series of metal and metal oxide catalyst. The responses of the current and CO/CO2 monitored from the fuel cell output suggest that hydrocarbon could dissociate on the catalyst surface producing hydrogen and carbon species for the electrochemical oxidation. The use of coal as a fuel produced CO2 as a major gaseous product. Fly ash produced from coal covered on the catalyst surface, resulting in the decay of the fuel cell performance. The advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen, hydrocarbon and carbon-based fuel cell will be discussed.
 

Fuel Cell Technology: High Temperature Fuel Cells, SOFC and MCFC
8:00 AM-12:25 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Cambridge Rm, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Sci-Mix

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007