Comparative Analysis of Different Renewable Fuels for Potential Utilization in SOFCs

Summary, in English

Fuel cells are promising due to advantages with higher energy conversion efficiency and lower emissions of SOX, NOX and CO2 than conventional power systems. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a high temperature fuel cell, which operates at 600-1000 ºC. The high operating temperature and the anode material allow SOFCs to operate with different types of fuels from both fossil and renewable sources due to their general higher tolerance to contaminants than other fuel cells. It opens up for an easier transition from conventional power generation with hydrocarbon-based fuels to hydrogen energy by fuel cells. Due to the increasing global awareness of how energy production and utilization affect the environment, the interest of use of renewable energy has increased and fuel cells have the potential to be a part of a sustainable solution. Attractive fuels, which are considered in this study, are methanol, ethanol, di-methyl-ether, ammonia and biogas. It is concluded that it is feasible for SOFCs to handle all the studied fuels. An analysis of the fuels at the same temperature (298 K and 1000 K) is conducted and evaluates the heat required for each mole H2 converted. It shows that methane is possibly more efficient as it uses twice as much heat as methanol and DME do. More advanced methods to investigate surface reactions are prospected to contribute, in combination with better catalysts, to more efficient reforming of the fuels.

• Author: Hedvig Paradis; Martin Andersson; Jinliang Yuan; Bengt Sundén
• Department/s: Heat Transfer
• Publishing year: 2011
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Energy Research
• Volume: 35
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Topic: Energy Engineering
• Keywords: SOFC; renewable fuels; biogas; methanol; ethanol; ammonia; di-methyl-ether.
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0363-907X