Carbon fuels oxidation

Fuels which have been used include hydrogen, hydrazine, methanol and ammonia, while oxidants are usually oxygen or air. Electrolytes comprise alkali solutions, molten carbonates, solid oxides, ion-exchange resins, etc. 

AFC = all line fuel ceU MCFC = molten carbonate fuel ceU PAFC = phosphoric acid fuel ceU PEFC = polymer electrolyte fuel ceU and SOFC = solid oxide fuel ceU. 

In low temperature fuel ceUs, ie, AEG, PAEC, PEEC, protons or hydroxyl ions are the principal charge carriers in the electrolyte, whereas in the high temperature fuel ceUs, ie, MCEC, SOEC, carbonate and oxide ions ate the charge carriers in the molten carbonate and soHd oxide electrolytes, respectively. Euel ceUs that use zitconia-based soHd oxide electrolytes must operate at about 1000°C because the transport rate of oxygen ions in the soHd oxide is adequate for practical appHcations only at such high temperatures. Another option is to use extremely thin soHd oxide electrolytes to minimize the ohmic losses. 

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell. The electrolyte ia the MCFC is usually a combiaation of alkah (Li, Na, K) carbonates retaiaed ia a ceramic matrix of LiA102 particles. The fuel cell operates at 600 to 700°C where the alkah carbonates form a highly conductive molten salt and carbonate ions provide ionic conduction. At the operating temperatures ia MCFCs, Ni-based materials containing chromium (anode) and nickel oxide (cathode) can function as electrode materials, and noble metals are not required. 

Hydrogen use as a fuel in fuel cell appHcations is expected to increase. Fuel cells (qv) are devices which convert the chemical energy of a fuel and oxidant directiy into d-c electrical energy on a continuous basis, potentially approaching 100% efficiency. Large-scale (11 MW) phosphoric acid fuel cells have been commercially available since 1985 (276). Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) ate expected to be commercially available in the mid-1990s (277). 

An emerging electrochemical appHcation of lithium compounds is in molten carbonate fuel ceUs (qv) for high efficiency, low poUuting electrical power generation. The electrolyte for these fuel ceUs is a potassium carbonate—hthium carbonate eutectic contained within a lithium aluminate matrix. The cathode is a Hthiated metal oxide such as lithium nickel oxide. 

The increasing number of atomic reactors used for power generation has been questioned from several environmental points of view. A modern atomic plant, as shown in Fig. 28-3, appears to be relatively pollution free compared to the more familiar fossil fuel-fired plant, which emits carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, hydrocarbons, and fly ash. However, waste and spent-fuel disposal problems may offset the apparent advantages. These problems (along with steam generator leaks) caused the plant shown in Fig. 28-3 to close permanently in 199T. 

There are six different types of fuel cells (Table 1.6) (1) alkaline fuel cell (AFC), (2) direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), (3) molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), (4) phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), (5) proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and (6) the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). They all differ in applications, operating temperatures, cost, and efficiency. 

Advanced power generation cycles that combine high-temper-ature fuel cells and gas turbines, reciprocating engines, or another fuel cell are the hybrid power plants of the future. As noted, these conceptual systems have the potential to achieve efficiencies greater than 70% and projected to be commercially ready by the year 2010 or sooner. The hybrid fuel cell/turbine (FC/T) power plant will combine a high-temperature, conventional molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide... 

Comprehensive discussions of fuel cells and Camot engines Nemst law analytical fuel cell modeling reversible losses and Nemst loss and irreversible losses, multistage oxidation, and equipartition of driving forces. Includes new developments and applications of fuel cells in trigeneration systems coal/biomass fuel cell systems indirect carbon fuel cells and direct carbon fuel cells. 

For natural-gas-fuelled CHP plants, the same line of argumentation holds as for the stationary use of hydrogen from biomass. It is more reasonable to use natural gas directly than to convert it to hydrogen first and then to heat and electricity. High electrical efficiencies can be reached in the stationary sector by feeding natural gas to molten-carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) and solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Molten-carbonate fuel cells have the added advantage of using C02 for the electrolyte (see also Chapter 13). 

In applications for static purpose, phosphoric add fuel cells have been constructed on a large scale for mainly test purposes. They have shown commerdal level performance and stability. More advanced types of fuel cells like molten carbonate fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells are also under development for this purpose but are %t to reach that level. 

Progress continues in fuel cell technology since the previous edition of the Fuel Cell Handbook was published in November 1998. Uppermost, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, and solid oxide fuel cells have been demonstrated at commercial size in power plants. The previously demonstrated phosphoric acid fuel cells have entered the marketplace with more than 220 power plants delivered. Highlighting this commercial entry, the phosphoric acid power plant fleet has demonstrated 95+% availability and several units have passed 40,000 hours of operation. One unit has operated over 49,000 hours. 

K. Ota, S. Mitsushima, K Kato, N. Kamiya, Yokahama National University, "Solubilities of Metal Oxides in Molten Carbonate, " in Proceedings of the Second Symposium on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Technology, Volume 90 -16, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. Pennington, NJ, Pgs. 318-327, 1990. 

Shah V.B. ASPEN Models for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell and Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Prepared by EG G Washington Analytical Services Center for the Morgantown Energy Technology Center under Contract No. DE-AC21-85MC21353, 1988. 

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell The electrolyte in the MCFC is a mixture of lithium/potassium or lithium/sodium carbonates, retained in a ceramic matrix of lithium aluminate. The carbonate salts melt at about 773 K (932°F), allowing the cell to be operated in the 873 to 973 K (1112 to 1292°F) range. Platinum is no longer needed as an electrocatalyst because the reactions are fast at these temperatures. The anode in MCFCs is porous nickel metal with a few percent of chromium or aluminum to improve the mechanical properties. The cathode material is hthium-doped nickel oxide. 

Biomass has some advantageous chemical properties for use in current energy conversion systems. Compared to other carbon-based fuels, it has low ash content and high reactivity. Biomass combustion is a series of chemical reactions by which carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide, and hydrogen is oxidized to water. Oxygen deficiency leads to incomplete combustion and the formation of many products of incomplete combustion. Excess air cools the system. The air requirements depend on the chemical and physical characteristics of the fuel. The combustion of the biomass relates to the fuel bum rate, the combustion products, the required excess air for complete combustion, and the fire temperatures. 

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