Ethylene glycol as a new sustainable fuel for solid oxide fuel cells with conventional nickel-based anodes. (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qu, Jifa; Wang, Wei; Chen, Yubo; Wang, Feng; Ran, Ran; Shao, Zongping
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 148(2015:Jun. 15)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Solid oxide fuel cells -- Ethylene glycol -- Carbon deposition -- Biomass -- Ni-based anodes; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.03.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Ethylene glycol could be used as a sustainable fuel for solid oxide fuel cells. Ethylene glycol was beneficial in suppressing coke formation on Ni anode. A high power output of 1200 mW cm −2 was obtained with ethylene glycol at 750 °C. An excellent operational stability was obtained with ethylene glycol fuel. Abstract: In this study, renewable ethylene glycol (EG) was exploited as a potential fuel for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with conventional nickel yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni–YSZ) cermet anodes for sustainable electric power generation. Carbon deposition behaviors over Ni–YSZ anodes under different carbon-containing atmospheres such as EG, glycerol, ethanol and methane were characterized through thermodynamic prediction, oxygen-temperature programmed oxidation and SEM–EDX analysis. EG was observed to be better than acetic acid and glycerol and much better than methane and ethanol in terms of carbon deposition. A calculation of the open-circuit voltages of EG-fueled SOFCs suggested that EG is a suitable fuel for SOFCs. A maximum power output of 1200 mW cm −2 at 750 °C was obtained from a cell operating on EG-steam fuel, which is only a little lower than that from a cell based on hydrogen fuel. The cell was further operated stably on an EG-steam gas mixture for 200 h with no apparent performance degradation, carbon deposition over the anode, Ni agglomeration, or change in the morphology of the anodes. The current study confirmed the practical applicability of EG as a direct fuel for SOFCs, which may have a great effect on future energy systems.