Short Summary
Direct Operation
of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells on Natural Gas
Scott A. Barnett
99-30
EISG Project
Title: Direct Operation of
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells on Natural Gas
EISG Grant Number: 99-30
PIER Area: Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
Principal Investigator: Scott A. Barnett
Contact Information: (847) 491-2447 s-barnett@nwu.edu
Organization: Northwestern University
Grant Amount: $74,958
Grant Term: 15 Months
Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of operating solid oxide fuel cells directly on natural gas. The key problems are to verify that the hydrocarbons can be electrochemically oxidized while avoiding carbon deposition at the fuel cell anode. For this, it will be necessary to explore alternate SOFC anode compositions. Anode performance will be characterized by chemical detection of carbon on the anodes, impedance spectroscopy, and fuel cell current-voltage measurements.
Proposed Outcomes:
· New anode materials capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons without carbon deposition and capable of preventing the sulfur in natural gas from poisoning the fuel cell.
· Prototype single-cell solid oxide fuel cells fabricated with the new anode materials.
· Feasibility assessment based on prototype performance testing.
Anticipated Benefits:
· Reduce the cost and complexity of fuel cells by eliminating the need for a natural gas fuel reformer.
· Accelerate the commercialization of low cost residential fuel cells in California where low cost natural gas is already widely distributed.
· Reduction in the green house gas CO2 by facilitating the use of natural gas in fuel cells that operate at higher efficiencies than central power plants.