An Experimental Guide to Predictable Fuel Cell Operations by Controlling External Gas Supply

Abstract

Fuel cell is one of the promising electrochemical technologies enabling power production with various fuel sources such as hydrogen, hydrocarbon and even solid carbon. However, its long-term performance is often unstable and unpredictable. In this work, we observed that gasification-driven hydrocarbons were the culprit of unpredictability. Therefore, we controlled the presence of hydrocarbons with the help of external gas supply, i.e. argon and carbon dioxide, and suggested the optimal amount of carbon dioxide required for predictable fuel cell operations. Our optimization strategy was based upon the following observations; carbon dioxide can work as both an inert gas and a fuel precursor, depending on its amount present in the reactor. When deficient, the carbon dioxide cannot fully promote the reverse Boudouard reaction that produces carbon monoxide fuel. When overly present, the carbon dioxide works as an inert gas that causes fuel loss. In addition, the excessive carbon monoxide may result in coking on the catalyst surface, leading to the decrease in the power performance. © 2018, Korean Society of Industrial Engineering Chemistry. All rights reserved.