Carbon-based Fuel Cell

Abstract

The direct use of coal in the solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity is an innovative concept for power generation. The C-fuel cell (carbon-based fuel cell) could offer significant advantages: (i) minimization of NOx emissions due to its operating temperature range of 700 -1000 °C, (ii) high overall efficiency because of the direct conversion of coal to CO 2 , and (iii) the production of a nearly pure CO 2 exhaust stream for the direct CO 2 sequestration. The objective of this project is to determine the technical feasibility of using a highly active anode catalyst in a solid oxide fuel for the direct electrochemical oxidation of coal to produce electricity. Results of this study showed that the electric power generation from Ohio No 5 coal (Lower Kittanning) Seam, Mahoning County, is higher than those of coal gas and pure methane on a solid oxide fuel cell assembly with a promoted metal anode catalyst at 950 °C. Further study is needed to test the long term activity, selectivity, and stability of anode catalysts.