Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cell stacks

Milcarek, Ryan J.; Garrett, Michael; Ahn, Jeongmin

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.09.005

Cited by 34 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…For example, chemical equilibrium analysis of propane combustion in air predicts over 20% H 2 and over 15% CO at an equivalence ratio of 2.4 compared to only around 10% of each for methane combustion at an equivalence ratio of 1.64 (i.e., the upper flammability limit). As a result, fuels with higher upper flammability limits may have advantages in generating higher syngas concentrations, which results in higher power densities and higher electrical efficiencies as observed in previous work (Milcarek et al, 2016a;Milcarek et al, 2016c). However, methane does have a higher H:C ratio compared to these other fuels which provides advantages in generating more H2 compared to CO. CO has the potential to coke on Ni based anodes used in SOFCs which is a challenge for these higher hydrocarbon fuels (Achenbach 1994;Farhad et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…flow rates used for model methane combustion exhaust were reported previously in Table 1 of the publication (Milcarek et al, 2016a).…”

Section: Fuel Cell Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent innovation on the DFFC design is to continue to utilize the flame for reforming of hydrocarbons to syngas and as a thermal energy source for the SOFC, while also utilizing a dual chamber configuration with sealing only on one end of a micro-tubular SOFC (mT-SOFC) (Milcarek et al, 2016a;Milcarek et al, 2016b;Milcarek et al, 2016c;Milcarek et al, 2016d). This DFFC operating in a dual chamber configuration has been termed a Flame-assisted Fuel Cell (FFC).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

Milcarek

Garrett

Ahn

2017

JFST

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Micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells operating in fuel-rich combustion exhaust are explored in this work and their benefits in reducing the balance of plant in fuel cell systems is discussed. The current state of performance of these micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells operating with methane fuel is described and the benefits of operating in propane fuel are explored. An experimental investigation of propane combustion at different fuel/air equivalence ratios is conducted. Temperature measurements of the propane combustion are recorded with thermocouples while the gas species present in the exhaust are measured with a gas chromatograph. Propane is found to have advantages over methane due to a higher upper flammability limit and higher percentages of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, i.e. syngas, generated in the combustion exhaust. A micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cell is tested using the four probe technique in model propane combustion exhaust at different equivalence ratios and temperatures. A method for comparing the performance of the fuel cell in the combustion exhaust to a hydrogen fuel baseline is developed and comparisons are made. The benefits of operating in propane compared to methane are explored with the potential for fuels like propane and butane being distinguished by their higher upper flammability limits and potential for higher concentrations of syngas in the combustion exhaust.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…flow rates used for model methane combustion exhaust were reported previously in Table 1 of the publication (Milcarek et al, 2016a).…”

Section: Fuel Cell Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

Milcarek

Garrett

Ahn

2017

JFST

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“…A silver wire current collector was wound around the cathode. Gold paste was applied to a bare section on the exterior of the anode and wrapped in silver wire in a previously reported configuration, which reduces the complexity of the current collector for the anode [53]. The current-voltage method with the four-probe technique [54] was conducted with a Keithley 2420 source meter interfaced with a computer.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Polarization and Impedance Variation With Thin Porous Samarium-Doped Ceria and Gadolinium-Doped Ceria Buffer Layer Thickness

Milcarek

Ahn

2020

Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage

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Abstract Porous buffer layers for anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been investigated for many years with different thicknesses of the buffer layer in each study. In this work, micro-tubular SOFCs having samarium-doped ceria (SDC) and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) buffer layers are compared using the current-voltage technique, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The thickness of the porous SDC and GDC buffer layer is investigated systematically with the thickness varying between 0.3–2.0 µm. The power density varies between 212 and 1,004 mW.cm−2 for samples having different SDC buffer layer thickness. Comparable changes occur for the SOFCs with a GDC buffer layer, but less variation in polarization losses resulted. Variation in electrochemical performance varies due to changes in ohmic resistance, cathode activation polarization, and interfacial reactions between the cathode and electrolyte materials.

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“…Two technologies that have shown promise for mCHP applications are the direct flame SOFC (DFFCs [17][18][19][20]) and flame-assisted SOFC (FFCs [21,22]). These SOFCs utilize partial oxidation as a method to provide the thermal energy needed for operation while reforming the hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen and carbon monoxide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-Economic Assessment of a Hybrid Gas Tank Hot Water Combined Heat and Power System

2021

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Combined heat and power (CHP) systems with an integrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a promising technology to increase overall efficiency of traditional residential combustion systems. One potential system is gas tank hot water heaters where partial oxidation of the fuel serves as a means of fuel reforming for SOFCs while producing thermal energy for heating water. In this study, a residential hybrid gas tank hot water heater with an integrated SOFC model was developed and a thorough techno-economic analysis was performed. Fuel-rich combustion characterization was performed at equivalence ratios 1.1 to 1.6 to assess synthesis gas production for the SOFC. The effect of fuel utilization and operating voltage of the model SOFC stack were analyzed to provide an in-depth characterization of the potential of the system. CHP and electrical efficiencies over >90% and >16% were achieved, respectively. The techno-economic analysis considers the four major census regions of the United States to evaluate regional savings based on respective utility costs and hot water demand. The results show the hybrid system is economically feasible for replacement of an electrical water heater with the longest payback period being approximately six years.

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Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cell stacks

Cited by 34 publications

References 41 publications

Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells

Micro-Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Polarization and Impedance Variation With Thin Porous Samarium-Doped Ceria and Gadolinium-Doped Ceria Buffer Layer Thickness

Techno-Economic Assessment of a Hybrid Gas Tank Hot Water Combined Heat and Power System

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