Abstract
Fuel cells are likely to play a key role in any low-carbon economy. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are currently capable of sustained and continuous operation on high-purity fuels, but they must demonstrate that they can overcome a number of challenges before they are commercially viable on a large scale. Fuels such as natural gas, and those derived from renewable sources such as gasified biomass, contain many contaminants, typically sulfur- and carbon-containing compounds. To address this it will be necessary to improve our understanding of failure modes in operating SOFCs, and act on this to reduce degradation rates. A combination of techniques will be needed to develop a rigorous approach to understanding and mitigating degradation. The intent of this article is to present a synopsis of the current state of the art in our understanding of the effect of carbon and sulfur on SOFC anodes. Emphasis is placed on the comparison between thermodynamic and kinetic models, and experimental validation of these. In particular the applicability of thermodynamic models to the study of such contaminants is questioned. Additionally the uses of multiscale kinetic models capable of predicting transient conditions are reviewed alongside recent analytical techniques necessary for their validation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 763-780 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Ceramic Society |
| Volume | 92 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Apr 2009 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- thermodynamics
- solid oxide fuel cell anodes
- carbon
- sulfur
- degradation rates
- kinetic models
- thermodynamic models
Cite this
}
Thermodynamics and kinetics of the interaction of carbon and sulfur with solid oxide fuel cell anodes. / Offer, Gregory J.; Mermelstein, Joshua; Brightman, Edward; Brandon, Nigel P.
In: Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 92, No. 4, 09.04.2009, p. 763-780.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Thermodynamics and kinetics of the interaction of carbon and sulfur with solid oxide fuel cell anodes
AU - Offer, Gregory J.
AU - Mermelstein, Joshua
AU - Brightman, Edward
AU - Brandon, Nigel P.
PY - 2009/4/9
Y1 - 2009/4/9
N2 - Fuel cells are likely to play a key role in any low-carbon economy. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are currently capable of sustained and continuous operation on high-purity fuels, but they must demonstrate that they can overcome a number of challenges before they are commercially viable on a large scale. Fuels such as natural gas, and those derived from renewable sources such as gasified biomass, contain many contaminants, typically sulfur- and carbon-containing compounds. To address this it will be necessary to improve our understanding of failure modes in operating SOFCs, and act on this to reduce degradation rates. A combination of techniques will be needed to develop a rigorous approach to understanding and mitigating degradation. The intent of this article is to present a synopsis of the current state of the art in our understanding of the effect of carbon and sulfur on SOFC anodes. Emphasis is placed on the comparison between thermodynamic and kinetic models, and experimental validation of these. In particular the applicability of thermodynamic models to the study of such contaminants is questioned. Additionally the uses of multiscale kinetic models capable of predicting transient conditions are reviewed alongside recent analytical techniques necessary for their validation.
AB - Fuel cells are likely to play a key role in any low-carbon economy. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are currently capable of sustained and continuous operation on high-purity fuels, but they must demonstrate that they can overcome a number of challenges before they are commercially viable on a large scale. Fuels such as natural gas, and those derived from renewable sources such as gasified biomass, contain many contaminants, typically sulfur- and carbon-containing compounds. To address this it will be necessary to improve our understanding of failure modes in operating SOFCs, and act on this to reduce degradation rates. A combination of techniques will be needed to develop a rigorous approach to understanding and mitigating degradation. The intent of this article is to present a synopsis of the current state of the art in our understanding of the effect of carbon and sulfur on SOFC anodes. Emphasis is placed on the comparison between thermodynamic and kinetic models, and experimental validation of these. In particular the applicability of thermodynamic models to the study of such contaminants is questioned. Additionally the uses of multiscale kinetic models capable of predicting transient conditions are reviewed alongside recent analytical techniques necessary for their validation.
KW - thermodynamics
KW - solid oxide fuel cell anodes
KW - carbon
KW - sulfur
KW - degradation rates
KW - kinetic models
KW - thermodynamic models
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64549119765&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2009.02980.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2009.02980.x
M3 - Article
VL - 92
SP - 763
EP - 780
JO - Journal of the American Ceramic Society
JF - Journal of the American Ceramic Society
SN - 0002-7820
IS - 4
ER -