Carbon deposition in CH4/CO2 operated SOFC: Simulation and experimentation studies

Girona, Kelly; Laurencin, Jérôme; Fouletier, J.; Lefebvre‐Joud, Florence

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.12.005

Cited by 108 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…It has been experimentally and numerically intensively studied as a fuel by many researchers over a long period of time. [14][15][16][17][18] McIntosh and Gorte 16 found that two primary carbon formation pathways occur during internal reforming of methane. First, homogeneously formed soot consisting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and second, carbon nano fibers (CNF) that heterogeneously grow on the catalyst surface.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical SOFC Anode Catalyst Occupation Study: Internal Reforming of Carbonaceous Fuel Mixtures

Schluckner

Subotić

Lawlor

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Internal reforming of light hydrocarbons is one of the major advantages of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This reforming process includes the risk of carbon formation and/or nickel re-oxidation on the active nickel sites of the porous fuel electrode. Knowledge of the absolute and relative amounts and positions of surface adsorbed species helps to achieve an understanding of the processes that occur and can be used to identify prevalent cell degradation mechanisms induced by internal reforming. This heterogeneous process was numerically investigated at an operating temperature of 800 • C by means of a detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The surface composition of adsorbed species within the porous structure of a Ni/Y SZ SOFC anode caused by different carbon-containing feeds will be discussed. Six fuel mixtures that represent diesel reformates or other carbon containing fuels with varying S/C ratio and methane to carbon monoxide ratio were analyzed in the context of their propensity to coking and oxidation. It was shown that highest carbon surface coverages occur when using feeds with a high methane to carbon monoxide ratio. Fuels that contain only carbon monoxide as carbon precursor lead to considerably lower coverages. Furthermore, surface specific coverage ratios were introduced that were used as effective methods to analyze coking or oxidation of the porous substrate. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems offer great fuel flexibility and have a high potential to become economically and technically competitive with existing power generation technologies. Compared to other types of fuel cells, SOFCs can be coupled with additional cycles in order to capitalize on the high quality heat generated by the system. 1,2 SOFCs have overcome many technological hurdles, which consisted mainly of materials issues (thermal expansion coefficient balancing) and fabrication challenges (sintering and sealing process). However, for commercial residential or automobile application, different critical operation modes need to be further scrutinized. 3Especially in SOFC-based mobile auxiliary power unit (APU) applications, the fuel cells can be operated in unfavorable fuel supply conditions during start-up and shutdown of the APU.SOFCs are operated in a temperature range between 600 and 1000• C, which enable them to utilize a broad range of fuels, including hydrocarbons. Reformed liquid fuels such as dimethyl ether, ethanol, methanol and others can be utilized, as shown by Cimenti and Hill. 4 Furthermore, carbon monoxide can be electrochemically converted, making SOFCs superior to low temperature fuel cells in terms of fuel flexibility. Currently, the usage of partially reformed hydrocarbons is a major benefit of SOFCs. 5,6 Particularly relevant for mobile APU systems, liquid diesel can be utilized in these cells with a preceding reforming step. Depending on the reformers' operating point, diesel reformat may be composed of a mixture containing methane (C H 4 ), carbon monoxide (C O), carbon dioxide (C O 2 ), hydr...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical SOFC Anode Catalyst Occupation Study: Internal Reforming of Carbonaceous Fuel Mixtures

Schluckner

Subotić

Lawlor

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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“…For the complete process, to have sufficient production of methane during the electrolysis process and to prevent carbon deposition problems in both SOFC and SOEC mode, an H/C/O ratio of 7/1/2 is required. Based on thermodynamic equilibrium study, a H/C ratio of 6–7 is required for methane formation in electrolysis mode and a minimal O/C ratio of 2 is needed to prevent carbon deposition . Additionally, the following assumptions are made to simplify the analysis.1)The time period of reactor operation in fuel cell mode is equal to that of electrolysis mode.

t_{fc} = t_{ec}

2)The charge transferred during the discharge mode (fuel cell) is equal to the charge transferred during the charging mode (electrolysis).3)Assumptions 1 and 2 imply that the current obtained from the SOC reactor in SOFC mode is equal in magnitude (but opposite in sign) to the current supplied to the SOC reactor in SOEC mode.

I_{fc} = I_{ec}

4)The product gases are assumed to reach thermodynamic equilibrium at the reactor outlet.…”

Section: Theoretical and Experimental Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Electricity Arbitration and Sector Coupling with an Experimentally Validated Reversible Solid Oxide Cell Reactor System Connected to the Natural Gas Grid

2020

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Chemical energy storage offers an attractive solution for the arbitration of intermittent renewable electricity due to its higher energy storage capacity and storage duration. Reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) reactor systems can efficiently operate in electrolysis operation to convert electrical energy to chemical energy or in fuel cell mode to convert chemical energy back to electrical energy. Natural gas is widely used in the chemical industry as a source of energy and hydrogen. Hence, storing electrical energy in the form of synthetic natural gas can couple electricity arbitration with chemical process industries. A methane‐based rSOC system concept for the purpose of energy storage and sector coupling is investigated. A process system analysis is performed based on an experimental study of a commercially available rSOC reactor. A validated rSOC reactor model is used to identify optimal system operating conditions. The proposed system concept achieves a chemical to electrical energy conversion efficiency of 57% and electrical to chemical energy conversion efficiency of 93% based on first law and lower heating value. A net electrical storage efficiency of 53% can be achieved.

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“…Girona et al [24] performed experiments and simulations of circular anode supported SOFCs fed either with synthetic biogas or humidified hydrogen. Simulations were conducted to assert the risk of coking depending on CH 4 concentration in the gaseous fuel and on the cell voltage.…”

Section: Gaseous Fuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional numerical and experimental investigation of an industrial-sized SOFC fueled by diesel reformat – Part II: Detailed reforming chemistry and carbon deposition analysis

Schluckner

Subotić

Lawlor

et al. 2015

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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Carbon deposition in CH4/CO2 operated SOFC: Simulation and experimentation studies

Cited by 108 publications

References 46 publications

Numerical SOFC Anode Catalyst Occupation Study: Internal Reforming of Carbonaceous Fuel Mixtures

Numerical SOFC Anode Catalyst Occupation Study: Internal Reforming of Carbonaceous Fuel Mixtures

Electricity Arbitration and Sector Coupling with an Experimentally Validated Reversible Solid Oxide Cell Reactor System Connected to the Natural Gas Grid

Three-dimensional numerical and experimental investigation of an industrial-sized SOFC fueled by diesel reformat – Part II: Detailed reforming chemistry and carbon deposition analysis

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