Fuel cathodes

Depth profiles of matrix elements on Mn- and Co-perovskite layers of fuel cathodes have been measured by LA-ICP-MS in comparison to other well established surface analytical techniques (e.g., SEM-EDX).118 On perovskite layers at a spatial resolution of 100p.m a depth resolution of 100-200 nm was obtained by LA-ICP-MS. The advantages of LA-ICP-MS in comparison to other surface analytical techniques (such as XPS, AES, SIMS, SNMS, GD-OES, GDMS and SEM-EDX) are the speed, flexibility and relatively low detection limits with an easy calibration procedure. In addition, thick oxide layers can be analyzed directly and no charging effects are observed in the analysis of non-conducting thick layers. 

Fuel cell Electrolyte Anode fuel Cathode gas Operating rrc) Applications... 

Load rejection without reactor trip (Y/N) Y Fuel Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) chsplay (Y/N) Y Automated start-up procedures (Y ) N Automated normal shutdown procedures (Y/N) Y Automated off normal shutdown procedures (Y/N) Y Use of field buses and smart sensors (Y/N) N Expert systems or artificial intelligence advisors (Y/N) Y Protection system backup (Y/N) N... 

Fuel Cell Type Electrolyte Anode Fuel Cathode Gas Temperature Efficiency... 

The concept of the reversed fuel cell, as shown schematically, consists of two parts. One is the already discussed direct oxidation fuel cell. The other consists of an electrochemical cell consisting of a membrane electrode assembly where the anode comprises Pt/C (or related) catalysts and the cathode, various metal catalysts on carbon. The membrane used is the new proton-conducting PEM-type membrane we developed, which minimizes crossover. 

The conventional electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide tends to give formic acid as the major product, which can be obtained with a 90% current efficiency using, for example, indium, tin, or mercury cathodes. Being able to convert CO2 initially to formates or formaldehyde is in itself significant. In our direct oxidation liquid feed fuel cell, varied oxygenates such as formaldehyde, formic acid and methyl formate, dimethoxymethane, trimethoxymethane, trioxane, and dimethyl carbonate are all useful fuels. At the same time, they can also be readily reduced further to methyl alcohol by varied chemical or enzymatic processes. 

Other Cell Designs. Although not used in the United States, another important cell is based on designs developed by ICl (90). Cells of this type are used by British Nuclear Fuels pic and differ from the cells shown in Figures 2 and 3 in two ways (/) the anodes used are made of the same hard, nongraphitized carbon, but are more porous and 2) the cathodes are formed from coiled tubes and provide additional cooling (91). 

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell. The electrolyte in a PEFC is an ion-exchange (qv) membrane, a fluorinated sulfonic acid polymer, which is a proton conductor (see Membrane technology). The only Hquid present in this fuel cell is the product water thus corrosion problems are minimal. Water management in the membrane is critical for efficient performance. The fuel cell must operate under conditions where the by-product water does not evaporate faster than it is produced because the membrane must be hydrated to maintain acceptable proton conductivity. Because of the limitation on the operating temperature, usually less than 120°C, H2-rich gas having Htde or no (

Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell. Concentrated phosphoric acid is used for the electrolyte ia PAFC, which operates at 150 to 220°C. At lower temperatures, phosphoric acid is a poor ionic conductor (see Phosphoric acid and the phosphates), and CO poisoning of the Pt electrocatalyst ia the anode becomes more severe when steam-reformed hydrocarbons (qv) are used as the hydrogen-rich fuel. The relative stabiUty of concentrated phosphoric acid is high compared to other common inorganic acids consequentiy, the PAFC is capable of operating at elevated temperatures. In addition, the use of concentrated (- 100%) acid minimizes the water-vapor pressure so water management ia the cell is not difficult. The porous matrix used to retain the acid is usually sihcon carbide SiC, and the electrocatalyst ia both the anode and cathode is mainly Pt. 

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. 

The electrons, Hberated at the anode, travel by electrical cable through the external load, such as an electric motor, to the cathode. If the external circuit is open the reaction is stopped, no fuel is consumed, and no power is generated. The electrolytic reaction, then, is controlled by the load connected to the cell. The overall fuel cell reaction is... 

Lead Telluride. Lead teUuride [1314-91 -6] PbTe, forms white cubic crystals, mol wt 334.79, sp gr 8.16, and has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. It is very slightly soluble in water, melts at 917°C, and is prepared by melting lead and tellurium together. Lead teUuride has semiconductive and photoconductive properties. It is used in pyrometry, in heat-sensing instmments such as bolometers and infrared spectroscopes (see Infrared technology AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY), and in thermoelectric elements to convert heat directly to electricity (33,34,83). Lead teUuride is also used in catalysts for oxygen reduction in fuel ceUs (qv) (84), as cathodes in primary batteries with lithium anodes (85), in electrical contacts for vacuum switches (86), in lead-ion selective electrodes (87), in tunable lasers (qv) (88), and in thermistors (89). 

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. 

Other Specialty Chemicals. In fuel-ceU technology, nickel oxide cathodes have been demonstrated for the conversion of synthesis gas and the generation of electricity (199) (see Fuel cells). Nickel salts have been proposed as additions to water-flood tertiary cmde-oil recovery systems (see Petroleum, ENHANCED oil recovery). The salt forms nickel sulfide, which is an oxidation catalyst for H2S, and provides corrosion protection for downweU equipment. Sulfur-containing nickel complexes have been used to limit the oxidative deterioration of solvent-refined mineral oils (200). 

In this process, uranium metal is electrodeposited at the cathode, while plutonium and other transuranium elements remain in the molten salt as trichlorides. Plutonium is reduced in a second step at a metallic cathode to produce Cd—Pu intermetallics. The refined plutonium and uranium metals can then be refabricated into metallic fuel (137). 

Design Principles An individual fuel cell will generate an electrical potential of about 1 V or less, as discussed above, and a current that is proportional to the external load demand. For practical apph-cations, the voltage of an individual fuel cell is obviously too small, and cells are therefore stacked up as shown in Fig. 27-61. Anode/ electrolyte/cathode assemblies are electrically connected in series by inserting a bipolar plate between the cathode of one cell and the anode of the next. The bipolar plate must be impervious to the fuel... 

Typical platinum catalyst loadings needed to support the anodic and cathodic reactions are currently 1 to 2 mg/cm" oi active cell area. Owing to the cost of platinum, substantial efforts have been made to reduce the catalyst loading, and some fuel cells have operated at a catalyst loading of 0.25 mg/cm". 

In the fuel cell which has a high oxygen potential at one electrode, the cathode, and a low oxygen potential resulting from the oxidation of hydrocarbons at the anode, the cell functions as an oxygen transfer cell in which the reaction... 

Efforts are made in the construction of new, large tank farms to achieve electrical isolation of buried and cathodically protected fuel installations from all... 

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