Fuel cell catalytic reformer

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) consists of two electrodes anode and cathode, with a ceramic electrolyte between that transfers oxygen ions. A SOFC typically operates at a temperature between 700 and 1000 °C. at which temperature the ceramic electrolyte begins to exhibit sufficient ionic conductivity. This high operating temperature also accelerates electrochemical reactions therefore, a SOFC does not require precious metal catalysts to promote the reactions. More abundant materials such as nickel have sufficient catalytic activity to be used as SOFC electrodes. In addition, the SOFC is more fuel-flexible than other types of fuel cells, and reforming of hydrocarbon fuels can be performed inside the cell. This allows use of conventional hydrocarbon fuels in a SOFC without an external reformer. 

Applications/Types of Reforming. - The type of reformer has a significant impact on overall efficiency and operating characteristics of a fuel cell system. Reformers can either be thermally activated or catalytic. The processes considered in this chapter are limited to catalytic. Depending on fuel, mode... 

Even if the reformate is purified by catalytic carbon monoxide clean-up to well below 50 ppm carbon monoxide and if other impurities are reduced to the ppb level, performance losses are to be expected when running a fuel cell with reformate. A 7% lower power production was observed by Shi et al. [31] when mnning a 2 kW PEM fuel cell stack with reformate produced from liquid hydrocarbons. 

The extent to which anode polarization affects the catalytic properties of the Ni surface for the methane-steam reforming reaction via NEMCA is of considerable practical interest. In a recent investigation62 a 70 wt% Ni-YSZ cermet was used at temperatures 800° to 900°C with low steam to methane ratios, i.e., 0.2 to 0.35. At 900°C the anode characteristics were i<>=0.2 mA/cm2, Oa=2 and ac=1.5. Under these conditions spontaneously generated currents were of the order of 60 mA/cm2 and catalyst overpotentials were as high as 250 mV. It was found that the rate of CH4 consumption due to the reforming reaction increases with increasing catalyst potential, i.e., the reaction exhibits overall electrophobic NEMCA behaviour with a 0.13. Measured A and p values were of the order of 12 and 2 respectively.62 These results show that NEMCA can play an important role in anode performance even when the anode-solid electrolyte interface is non-polarizable (high Io values) as is the case in fuel cell applications. 

In the phosphoric acid fuel cell as currently practiced, a premium (hydrogen rich) hydrocarbon (e.g. methane) fuel is steam reformed to produce a hydrogen feedstock to the cell stack for direct (electrochemical) conversion to electrical energy. At the fuel electrode, hydrogen ionization is accomplished by use of a catalytic material (e.g. Pt, Pd, or Ru) to form solvated protons. 

The Pt/Ru catalyst is the material of choice for the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) (and hydrogen reformate) fuel cell anodes, and its catalytic function needs to be completely understood. In the hrst approximation, as is now widely acknowledged, methanol decomposes on Pt sites of the Pt/Ru surface, producing chemisorbed CO that is transferred via surface motions to the active Pt/Ru sites to become oxidized to CO2... 

Ahmed, S. et al., Catalytic partial oxidation reforming of hydrocarbon fuels, Proc. of 1998 Fuel Cell Seminar, Palm Springs, CA, 242,1998. 

Onboard reforming for fuel cells depends on catalytic reactions to convert conventional hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline or methanol, into hydrogen that fuel cells can then use to produce electricity to power vehicles. 

Fuel cell technology continues to advance with materials research. The catalyst material has been one of the major expenses in fuel cell design. An anode with about 40% less catalyst has been developed at Forsc-hungszentrum Julich GmbH in Julich, Germany. It has a bipolar plate with areas of different catalytic activity levels. The anode substrate has one phase that does not act as catalyst to methane-vapor reforming reactions, and another phase where it acts as a catalyst. 

The concentration of the non or slightly catalytic effective metallic phase can be adjusted. A reduced catalyst concentration for a delayed methane-vapor reforming reaction are then present if they are placed in the fuel cell adjacent to the gas passages. 

Sulfur poisons catalytic sites in the fuel cell also. The effect is aggravated when there are nickel or iron-containing components including catalysts that are sensitive to sulfur and noble metal catalysts, such as found in low temperature cell electrodes. Sulfur tolerances are described in the specific fuel cell sections of this handbook." In summary, the sulfur tolerances of the cells of interest, by percent volume in the cleaned and altered fuel reformate gas to the fuel cells from published data, are ... 

Private communication with Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Reading, England, February 2000. 17. "Catalytic Partial Oxidation Reforming of Hydrocarbon Fuels," S. Ahmed, et al., ANL, Pg. 242, Fuel Cell Seminar Abstracts, Courtesy Associates, Inc., November 1998. 

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