INTERNAL CATHODE TUBULAR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL OPERATING ON MODEL METHANE COMBUSTION EXHAUST

Alexander R. Hartwell, Jeongmin Ahn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemConference contribution

Abstract

The combustion of methane produces favorable conditions for power generation via solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). When SOFCs operate in the exhaust of a combustion reaction in a flame-assisted fuel cell (FFC) arrangement, electrical power and heat can be simultaneously produced. These combined heat and power (CHP) systems offer high efficiencies and resilience against external power supply disruptions. The geometric limitations of SOFCs, however, have previously complicated their integration into combustion chambers. Specifically, the desirable self-sealing tubular-SOFC (tSOFC) geometry which offers resilience against rapid thermal fluctuations, a necessity for operation within combustion chambers, requires the fuel to be fed to the inside of the tube when produced through traditional manufacturing procedures. This requirement significantly alters the combustion chamber operation. This issue has been eliminated through development of a novel extrusion-based internal cathode tSOFC (IC-tSOFC) which has oxidant fed internally allowing it to be directly placed into the fuel containing environment of a combustion chamber. At this point, the performance of these cells has only been investigated when utilizing hydrogen as a fuel. This work investigates IC-tSOFC operation with model methane combustion exhaust acting as the fuel supply. Variation of performance as a result of operation temperature as well as exhaust compositions are presented in addition to scanning electron microscope images of the cells before and after short-term durability testing. The results shown here provide motivation to continue work on integrating IC-tSOFCs into combustion systems to produce high efficiency CHP solutions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the ASME 2022 Power Conference, Power 2022
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791885826
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
EventASME 2022 Power Conference, Power 2022 - Pittsburgh, United States
Duration: Jul 18 2022Jul 19 2022

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Power Division (Publication) POWER
Volume2022-July

Conference

ConferenceASME 2022 Power Conference, Power 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPittsburgh
Period7/18/227/19/22

Keywords

  • Combined Heat
  • Energy Conversion
  • Fuel Cell Applications
  • Power (CHP) System
  • Power Cogeneration
  • Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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