Intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell employing reformed effective biogas: Power generation and inhibition of carbon deposition

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 340; pp. 319 - 324
• Main Authors: Miyake, Michihiro, Iwami, Makoto, Goto, Kenta, Iwamoto, Kazuhito, Morimoto, Koki, Shiraishi, Makoto, Takatori, Kenji, Takeuchi, Mizue, Nishimoto, Shunsuke, Kameshima, Yoshikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Carbon deposition; Effective biogas; Intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell; Ni-Cu alloy/electrolyte cermet anode; Reforming catalyst; Reforming catalyst; Carbon deposition; Effective biogas; Ni-Cu alloy/electrolyte cermet anode; Intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.11.080

A power generation system consisting of an intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) and an external reformer for biogas is developed, and its performance is investigated for advanced use of effective biogas. The IT-SOFC is fueled with syngas produced via biogas reforming, and is successfully operated at 600 and 700 °C using Ni0.8Cu0.2 alloy/gadolinia-doped ceria electrolyte (Ni0.8Cu0.2/GDC) cermet anodes and a LaAlO3 supported-Ni (Ni/LaAlO3) catalyst. The Ni/LaAlO3 catalyst stably exhibits high reforming performance for effective biogas at 800 °C for 27 h, and carbon deposition on the catalyst is prevented. The electrochemical performance of the Ni0.8Cu0.2/GDC cermet anode using syngas fuel possessing a H2:CO ratio of approximately 3:1 is comparable to the performance achieved with H2 fuel; the anode remains stable after 24 h of operation at 700 °C without interruption and is unaffected by carbon deposition. [Display omitted] •Ni/LaAlO3 catalyst reformed biogas to syngas with high performance at 800 °C.•The Ni/LaAlO3 catalyst prevented carbon deposition on the catalyst.•SOFC with Ni0.8Cu0.2/GDC anode fueled with the syngas was operated at 600 and 700 °C.•Performance of the IT-SOFC was comparable to the performance using H2 fuel.•The performance stably lasted for 24 h at 700 °C without interruption by coking.