A. Al-Musa

Carbon to electricity in a solid oxide fuel cell combined with an internal catalytic gasification process

Abstract This study explores strategies to develop highly efficient direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) by combining a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a catalyst-aided carbon-gasification process. This system employs Cu/CeO 2 composites as both anodic electrodes and carbon additives in a cell of the type: carbon|Cu-CeO 2 /YSZ/Ag|air. The study investigates the impact on in situ carbon-gasification and DCFC performance characteristics of catalyst addition and variation in the carrier gas used (inert He versus reactive CO 2 ). The results indicate that cell performance is significantly improved by infusing the catalyst into the carbon feedstock and by employing CO 2 as the carrier gas. At 800 °C, the maximum power output is enhanced by approximately 40% and 230% for carbon/CO 2 and carbon/catalyst/CO 2 systems, respectively, compared with that of the carbon/He configuration. The increase observed when employing the catalyst and CO 2 as the carrier gas can be primarily attributed to the pronounced effect of the catalyst on carbon-gasification through the reverse-Boudouard reaction, and the subsequent in situ electro-oxidation of CO at the anode three-phase boundary.

A Versatile Converter of Liquid Hydrocarbons for the Production of Reducing and Carbonization Atmospheres

Abstract We herein report the results of our investigation into the modes of catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) of liquid fuels and air mixtures to yield endothermic (endo) gas on a pilot-scale installation containing ~ 0.45 cm3 catalytic bed. This endothermic gas serves as a protective atmosphere in thermochemical steel treatment processes. Seven liquid hydrocarbons (LHs) are investigated, namely isooctane, 91 RON (research octane number) and 95 RON gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, and naphtha. All experiments are performed using our previously developed reactor, where the reactions of natural gas/air mixtures were previously studied. In the present study, we report that the LH conversion products reached an equilibrium state similar to that of methane and natural gas conversion with an atomic C/O ratio of ~ 1.0 in the mixture. Furthermore, working regimes between 850 and 950 °C are examined as typical reaction conditions for industrial endo gas generators, and in all cases, the required gas quality is achieved. However, we found that gasoline and diesel are the most suitable LH feedstock for endo gas generation.