Integration of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Multi-Element Diffusion Flame Burners

Abstract

A direct flame fuel cell setup is designed and built based on a multi-element diffusion flame burner (MEDB). Flame temperature measurements are made using a fine-wire S-type thermocouple to characterize the flat flame burner performance. The MEDB is proven to provide uniform, ∼1D conditions above the surface of the burner, with temperature variations of less than ±2% in the transverse direction (parallel to the burner surface). The temperature distribution in flame height direction is also approximately uniform within the length of 45 mm. Direct flame fuel cell experiments were performed using an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based on button cell geometry. The cell power density can reach up to 400 W/m2 with fuel equivalent ratio at ϕ = 1.2 and flame temperature at 1085 K, which is around 1/3 of the original performance of the SOFC fueled with 97% hydrogen at 1073 K. Finally, a novel DFFC configuration is proposed to take advantage the flame uniformity in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells operated in direct-flame configuration

“…Coking is also influenced by fuel type, for example a cell operated in direct methanol flame showed stable performance over 30 h, whereas a similar cell operated with ethanol flame failed very quickly due to carbon deposition on the anode [8]. Direct-flame SOFCs have been operated with a wide variety of burner configurations, including jet burner tube which provides a simple setup and stable flame [19], micro-jet flame [7], multi-element diffusion flame burner [16], and flat flame burner [28] which provides very uniform temperature and concentration distributions across the cell area.…”

Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

“…This is a significant challenge in a dual chamber configuration in which the fuel cells are sealed to create separate fuel and oxidant chambers (Milcarek et al, 2016e;Milcarek et al, 2016f). To avoid the sealing challenges a single chamber configuration (Priestnall et al, 2002;Raz et al, 2002;Riess 2008;Riess et al, 1995) and a no-chamber, Direct Flame Fuel Cell (DFFC) (Endo and Nakamura 2014;Horiuchi et al, 2004;Kronemayer et al, 2007;Sun et al, 2010;Vogler et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2014b;Wang et al, 2013;Yu-guang Wang et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2014a;Zhu et al 2012), have been proposed. While the DFFC configuration can perform rapid startup and thermal cycling, challenges persist with low fuel utilization, electrical efficiency, and thermal stresses due to an uneven temperature distribution of the flame over the fuel cell surface (Wang et al, 2015(Wang et al, , 2011Wang et al, 2014b).…”

Study on Direct Flame Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using Flat Burner and Ethylene Flame

“…The GDC powder was pressed into pellets and fired in air at 1500 o C for 12 hours to obtain a dense support. The Ce 0.9 Ni 0.1 O 2-δ was synthesized as a following method; Ce(NO 3 ) 3 •6H 2 O (99.9%, SigmaAldrich Co. LLC, UK) and Ni(NO 3 ) 2 •6H 2 O (99%, Alfa Aesar, USA) nitrate precursors and citric acid were mixed in a beaker with 100 ml deionized-water and then this solution was dried on a hotplate. After this, the ashes were calcined at 600 o C for 3 hours and 1000 o C for 6 hours, respectively for crystallization.…”

“…The SOFCs are electrochemical devices to converting chemical energy into electricity at high efficiency (1)(2)(3). Unlike lower temperature fuel cells, any carbon monoxide (CO) formed is transformed to carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at the high operating temperature, and so hydrocarbon fuels can be used directly through internal reforming or even direct oxidation.…”