Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of low hydrocarbons on the solid oxide fuel cell anode

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, the effects of ethylene on the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode were investigated both for an SOFC single cell and an SOFC stack. Two fuels were used to observe the effects that low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) in the reformate gas stream have on the SOFC anode. Methane or ethylene was supplied to the electrolyte-supported SOFC anode. Using ethylene as a fuel, catastrophic degradation of SOFC performance was observed due to ethylene-induced carbon deposition onto the SOFC anode. Thus, a new methodology, termed “post-reforming,” is introduced for the removal of low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) from the reformate gas stream. The CGO-Ru catalyst was selected as the post-reforming catalyst because of its high selectivity for removing low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) and for its long-term stability. The diesel reformer and post-reformer were continuously operated for ∼250 h in coupled-operation mode. The reforming performance was not degraded, and low hydrocarbons (over C1-hydrocarbons) in the diesel reformate were completely removed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Singhal SC, Kendall K (2003) High temperature solid oxide fuel cells: fundamentals design and applications. Elsevier Advanced Technology, Kidlington Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  2. Steele BCH, Heinzel A (2001) Materials for fuel cell technologies. Nature 414:345–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eguchi K, Kojo H, Takeguchi T, Kikuchi R, Sasaki K (2002) Fuel flexibility in power generation by solid oxide fuel cells. Solid State Ion 152–153:411–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Yoon SH, Kang IY, Bae JM (2008) Effects of ethylene on carbon formation in diesel autothermal reforming. Int J Hydrogen Energy 33:4780–4788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cheekatamarla PK, Lane AM (2006) Catalytic autothermal reforming of diesel fuel for hydrogen generation in fuel cells: II. Catalyst poisoning and characterization studies. J Power Sources 154:223–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pasel J, Meiβner J, Porš Z, Samsun RC, Tschauder A, Peters R (2007) Autothermal reforming of commercial Jet A-1 on a 5kWe scale. Int J Hydrogen Energy 32:4847–4858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ahmed S, Krumpelt M (2001) Hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels for fuel cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy 26:291–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rostrup-Nielsen JR, Christensen TS, Dybkjaer I (1998) Steam reforming of liquid hydrocarbons. Stud Surf Sci Catal 113:81–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bae JM, Lim SK, Jee HJ, Kim JH, Yoo YS, Lee TH (2007) Small stack performance of intermediate temperature-operating solid oxide fuel cells using stainless steel interconnects and anode-supported single cell. J Power Sources 172:100–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kang IY, Bae JM (2006) Autothermal reforming study of diesel for fuel cell application. J Power Sources 159:1283–1290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim YM, Kim JH, Bae GJ, Bae JM (2008) A simulation study of carbon deposition and consequent deterioration. Proceedings of the 7th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering & Technology Conference

  12. Yoon SH, Bae JM, Kim SY, Yoo YS (2009) Self-sustained operation of a kWe-class kerosene-reforming processor for solid oxide fuel cells. J Power Sources 192:360–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lindermeir A, Kah S, Kavurucu S, Mühlner M (2007) On-board diesel fuel processing for an SOFC-APU—technical challenges for catalysis and reactor design. App Catal B: Environmental 70:488–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jeong JH, Lee JW, Seo DJ, Seo YT, Yoon WL, Lee DK, Kim DY (2006) Ru-doped Ni catalysts effective for the steam reforming of methane without the pre-reduction treatment with H2. App Catal A: Gen 302:151–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Constantino S, Michael S (1985) Solid-electrolyte-aided study of hydrogen oxidation on nickel. J Catal 93:417–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI) and by the KAIST EEWS Initiative. This study was also supported by the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell of New & Renewable Energy R&D program (20093021030010) under the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, 335 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea

    Sangho Yoon, Sunyoung Kim & Joongmyeon Bae

  2. Fuel Cell Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-791, Republic of Korea

    Yongmin Kim

Authors
  1. Sangho Yoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongmin Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sunyoung Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joongmyeon Bae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joongmyeon Bae.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yoon, S., Kim, Y., Kim, S. et al. Effects of low hydrocarbons on the solid oxide fuel cell anode. J Solid State Electrochem 14, 1793–1800 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-010-1078-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-010-1078-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation