Modelling of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with different designs of indirect internal reformer

The cell performance and temperature gradient of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with indirect internal reformer(IIR-SOFC) fuelled by natural gas, containing a typical catalytic packed-bed reformer, a catalytic coated wall reformer, a catalytic annular reformer, and a novel catalytic annular-coated wall reformer were investigated with an aim to determine the most efficient internal reformer system. Among the four reformer designs, IIR-SOFC containing an annular-coated wall reformer exhibited the highest performance in terms of cell power density(0.67 W cm-2)and electrical efficiency(68%) with an acceptable temperature gradient and a moderate pressure drop across the reformer(3.53×10-5kPa).IIR-SOFC with an annular-coated wall reformer was then studied over a range of operating conditions: inlet fuel temperature, operating pressure, steam to carbon(S : C) ratio, gas flow pattern(co-flow and counter-flow pattern), and natural gas compositions. The simulation results showed that the temperature gradient across the reformer could not be decreased using a lower fuel inlet temperature(1223 K–1173 K)and both the power density and electrical efficiency of the cell also decreased by lowering fuel inlet temperature. Operating in higher pressure mode(1-10 bar) improved the temperature gradient and cell performance. Increasing the S : C ratio from 2 : 1 to 4 : 1 could decrease the temperature drop across the reformer but also decrease the cell performance. The average temperature gradient was higher and smoother in IIR-SOFC under a co-flow pattern than that under a counter-flow pattern, leading to lower overpotential and higher cell performance. Natural gas compositions significantly affected the cell performance and temperature gradient. Natural gas containing lower methane content provided smoother temperature gradient in the system but showed lower power density and electrical efficiency.     

YSZ中温燃料电池的稳态模拟

依据同时考虑电化学及热平衡耦合的二维模拟软件 ,计算了薄膜钇稳氧化锆 (YSZ)中温燃料电池在不同工作条件下的稳态特性 .通过电流～电压关系参数进行自拟合实验 ,格点选取由平衡收敛性和计算效率而得 ,研究了不同连接体、气流流向设计等工作条件下的温度场 ,给出了不同工作温度下输出功率及电池效率与工作电压的关系 .对温度场的分析表明 :电池板内最高温度及最大温差以并流为最小 ,交叉流为最大 ,并流是最好的气流流向设计 .与以陶瓷材料作连接体相比 ,使用金属连接体能显著减小热应力和电池板内最高温度 ,受益最大的是交叉流 ,其最高温度及最大温差均小于陶瓷连接体的并流设计 .不同的气流流向对于输出功率及电池效率影响很小 ,对并流和金属连接体组合 ,给出了工程设计的燃料分布、电流密度、Nernst势及温度梯度在典型工作条件下的情形     

Hydrogen production capacity of membrane reformer for methane steam reforming near practical working conditions

Currently, H₂ production techniques for application to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are intensively investigated, aiming to realize a clean hydrogen society. Due to the limitation by the thermodynamics of methane steam reforming (MSR), multi-reactions and multi-steps should be performed before the generated H₂-rich gas could be delivered to PEMFC, which inevitably increases the cost of H₂. However, using a thermodynamic shifting membrane reformer, H₂ could be produced compactly from MSR, provided that the catalyst showed high performance for MSR reaction and membrane efficiently removed H₂ from the reaction zone. We presented here a Pd-based membrane reformer for MSR reaction. In contrast with previous reports, nickel-based catalyst pre-reduced at high temperature was applied in this work, as well as high performance Pd-based membrane. The performances of the membrane reformer in terms of H₂ production capacity were also widely investigated. It was found that combination of an active catalyst for MSR and a H₂ ultra-permeable Pd membrane obtained high flux of H₂ across the membrane and recovery rate of H₂ in the membrane reformer. For instance, 98.8% methane conversion, over 97.0% selectivity to CO₂ and over 95.0% recovery rate of H₂ were obtained under mild working conditions. Simultaneously, the hydrogen flux across the membrane reached 18.6 m³/(m² h), and Pd-based pure H₂ production capacity significantly increased and reached around 387.5 m³/(kg_Pd h) in membrane reformer. Further work on stability investigation may develop an efficient on-site route of H₂ production process for application to on-site power generation using PEMFC.     

基于电-化-热耦合理论对称双阴极固体氧化物燃料电池堆的电流与温度场数值模拟

本文基于电-化-热多场耦合理论,通过有限元方法建立了一个基于对称双阴极结构SOFC电堆单元的三维数值模型,研究了其电堆内部的电流密度分布和温度分布. 研究结果表明,气体流动方式以及集流方式影响了电解质上电流密度和温度分布：在气体进、出气口处有较大的电流密度分布;在气体共流模式下,电解质层温度分布却较均匀;在双阴极结构电池阴极侧的单一集流模式下,集流侧的电解质的平均电流密度高于另一侧.     

Modeling of microreactor for syngas production by catalytic partial oxidation of methane

Fixed-bed reactors for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane (CPOM) to produce synthesis gas still pose hot spots problems. Microreactor is a good alternative reactor proposed to resolve these problems. In this paper, synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) production was investigated by a two-dimensional numerical model of single microchannel. CFD modeling with detailed chemistry was conducted to understand the CPOM on platinum (Pt) catalyst. Gas inlet velocity, microchannel pressure, and fuel to air ratio (F/A) are selected as the effective parameters on microchannel performance. Study results show that Reynolds number has considerable effect on methane conversion, hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio (H2/CO), and product distribution. Increasing gas inlet velocity causes all the above parameters to decrease. It is noted that increasing microchannel pressure and decreasing the ratio of fuel to air cause the decrease of the H2/CO ratio.     

板式反应器中甲醇自热重整制氢的研究

自行研制了一种高效的板式反应器，集预热、气化、重整、催化燃烧反应于一体。在该反应器中进行了一系列甲醇自热重整制氢实验，考察了反应器床层的温度分布及氧醇比、水醇比对甲醇重整制氢过程的影响。实验中重整温度保持在450 ℃～650 ℃，当甲醇的气体空速为4 000 h－1时，产生重整气3 m3/h～5 m3/h(重整气中氢气浓度44.0%～50.0%，CO浓度为10.0%～12.0%，产氢率为1.5m3／kg(CH3OH)，系统处于常压。     

Energy-efficient chlorine production by gas-phase HCl electrolysis with oxygen depolarized cathode

For the first time, gas-phase electrolysis of HCl to chlorine was conducted in a fuel cell type reactor with an oxygen depolarized cathode. Very low cell voltages below − 1 V at industrially relevant current densities of 4 kA m^− 2 were obtained. Compared to technical HCl electrolysis processes, this leads to a reduction in electrical energy demand of approximately 30%. The temperature and the relative humidity (rH) of the cathode inlet gas were identified as key parameters controlling the overall performance of the system.     

A comprehensive three-dimensional modeling of an internal reforming planar solid oxide fuel cell with different interconnect designs

Development of low-emission or zero-emission power generation systems is one of the most important subjects humanity is dealing with. Among different under development technologies and energy systems, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an efficient and low-emission energy conversion device that is passing its research and development career. The current study aims to investigate a hydrocarbon fueled anode-supported planar-type SOFC due to simpler geometry, higher power density, and low overpotentials. In this study, electric performance of a SOFC with different interconnect designs under different operating conditions, such as operating voltage, channel inlet temperature, pre-reforming rate of methane, and inlet fuel and air velocity, has been investigated by use of a three-dimensional model considering complicated systems of equations: species mass conservation, first law of thermodynamics, conservation of momentum, and non-linear electrochemical models including multi-specious diffusion. It has been concluded that at a given voltage, inlet temperature, inlet air and fuel velocity, and pre-reforming rate, wider gas channels help to more uniform distribution and better penetration of reactant gases. Therefore, considering low-concentration polarization as an object, narrow ribs are preferred over wide ribs. By increasing the rate of the electrochemical reaction, the current and power density and subsequently the temperature difference increase but the fuel consumption in all cases has almost a decreasing trend. Also, it has been found that increasing inlet air velocity has little effect on current and power density but because of more cooling effect, it reduces the temperature difference and fuel consumption coefficient. On the other hand, increasing the inlet temperature has no meaningful effect on the temperature difference along the channels.

     

Application of Plasma Fuel Reformer to an On-Board Diesel Burner

A conventional diesel burner has arisen several shortcomings, such a large supply of air for a stoichiometric combustion, and a long heat-up time to reach the light-off temperature of catalyst in a diesel after-treatment system. This study shows a promising potential of using a plasma reformer for staged diesel combustion with minimized air and fuel consumption, and increased the flame stability with low NOx emission. A working principle of a plasma fuel reformer for staged combustion is explained in detail by both visualizing the plasma-assisted flame and analyzing the gas products. The concentrations of H₂, CO, NOx and the unburned total hydrocarbons were measured by gas chromatography and a commercial gas analyzer. Considering the operating condition of diesel exhaust gas is too harsh to maintain a stable diesel flame with a conventional diesel burner, plasma fuel reformer has distinctive advantages in stable flame anchoring under the condition of low oxygen concentration and fast flow speed. The re-ignition and stable flame anchoring by entrapment of oxygen in exhaust gas is mainly attributed to the low ignition energy and high diffusion velocity of hydrogen molecule. From an economic point of view, plasma reformer is also the only technology which can use only 1/3–1/8 of the air required for the stoichiometric burning of a conventional diesel burner. A conventional burner was simulated and analyzed to consume up to 30 % more fuel compared to the plasma reformer with the staged combustion to get the same level of temperature elevation in a real diesel engine scale.     

PEMFC阴极催化层结构分析

采用CCS法（catalyst coated substrate）构建铂纳米颗粒（Pt-NPs）和铂纳米线（Pt-NWs）双层催化层结构,分析其对单电池电化学性能的影响。对于富铂/贫铂双层铂纳米颗粒结构,靠近质子交换膜侧的富铂层中致密的铂颗粒结构能促进ORR速率,而靠近气体扩散层一侧的具有更高的孔隙率和平均孔尺寸的贫铂层,有利于反应气体的传输和扩散,当贫富铂层铂载量比为1:2时,单电池测试表现出最优性能,在0.6 V时的电流密度达到了1.05 A·cm^-2,峰值功率密度为0.69 W·cm^-2,较常规单层催化层结构提升了21%。在以Pt-NPs作为基底层时生长Pt-NWs时,得到了梯度分布的双层结构。铂颗粒的存在促进了铂前驱体的还原,并为新形成的铂原子提供了沉积位置。在Pt-NPs基底上生长的Pt-NWs具有更均匀的分布以及更致密的绒毛结构,并且自然形成了一种梯度分布。优化后的Pt-NWs催化层在0.6 V时的电流密度提高了21%。含有双层催化层结构的膜电极具有更高的催化剂利用率,对阴极催化层结构的优化和制备提供了新思路。     

Inverted Fuel Cell: Room‐Temperature Hydrogen Separation from an Exhaust Gas by Using a Commercial Short‐Circuited PEM Fuel Cell without Applying any Electrical Voltage

A short‐circuited PEM fuel cell with a Nafion membrane has been evaluated in the room‐temperature separation of hydrogen from exhaust gas streams. The separated hydrogen can be recovered or consumed in an in situ olefin hydrogenation when the fuel cell is operated as catalytic membrane reactor. Without applying an outer electrical voltage, there is a continuous hydrogen flux from the higher to the lower hydrogen partial pressure side through the Nafion membrane. On the feed side of the Nafion membrane, hydrogen is catalytically split into protons and electrons by the Pt/C electrocatalyst. The protons diffuse through the Nafion membrane, the electrons follow the short‐circuit between the two brass current collectors. On the cathode side, protons and electrons recombine, and hydrogen is released.     

Numerical prediction of humidification process in planar porous membrane humidifier of a PEM fuel cell system to evaluate the effects of operating and geometrical parameters

In present study, a numerical model is employed to investigate the effects of different operating parameters and channel geometry on the performance of membrane humidifier. Simulations are performed by a commercial CFD code and based on user defined functions. Three-dimensional counter-flow humidifier model for a gas-to-gas case is considered. Results show that an increase in porosity or permeability leads to better humidification. Moreover, increase in inlet temperature of dry and wet channels as well as inlet mass flowrate of water vapor would enhance humidifying process. On the other hand, by reduction in inlet mass flowrate of gas channel and thickness of the porous medium in membrane, better humidifier performance would be achieved. To investigate the geometric parameters, three different channel types including stepped, sinusoidal and zigzag are considered. It is found that stepped geometry has the best performance in humidifying.

     

解耦双回路气化系统中生物质催化水蒸气气化制富氢气体

为强化生物质气化过程中焦油转化和氢气富集,提出了一种新型解耦双回路气化系统(DDLG) 。该气化系统将气化过程解耦为燃料气化、焦油重整和半焦燃烧三个子过程,分别发生于三个独立的反应器,即气化反应器、重整反应器和燃烧反应器。其中,气化反应器和重整反应器并行布置,分别与燃烧反应器相连,形成两个平行的且可独立控制的双循环回路。以松木屑为原料及兼作为原位焦油重整催化剂的煅烧橄榄石为循环固体热载体,考察了反应条件对 DDLG 中松木屑气化性能的影响。结果表明,重整反应器从气化反应器中解耦,并辅以橄榄石催化剂,可实现焦油高效转化脱除。如气化反应器700℃、重整反应器 850℃和水蒸气与原料中碳的质量比(S/C) 1.2 反应条件下,产品气中焦油含量降低至13.9g /m~3,气体产率和H_2分别达到1.0m~3 /kg,和38.8%。     

溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池性能研究

以掺杂石墨粉的中间相碳微球(MCMB/G)烧结管为阴极支撑体,采用浸涂工艺分别制备了扩散层和催化层并在其外表面包裹Nafion膜,制得管状异型阴极并组装成异型直接甲醇燃料电池;采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了适用于直接甲醇燃料电池的溶胶-凝胶流动相。研究了溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池的阻抗,考察了阴极支撑体壁厚、阴极扩散层载量、实验温度和溶胶黏度等对电池极化性能的影响。结果表明,异型电池阻抗比传统平板电池大,但活化后电池阻抗明显下降;较低的溶胶黏度和较高的工作温度有利于提高电池性能;支撑体壁厚为1.3 mm、扩散层载量为3.5 mg/cm2时的电极性能最优。     

Spatially resolved characterization of PEFCs using simultaneously neutron radiography and locally resolved impedance spectroscopy

A method for performing neutron radiography and locally resolved impedance spectroscopy simultaneously in situ in an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is presented. The new method provides concurrently spatially resolved information about the local cell performance, the locally limiting processes, and the liquid water distribution. Information about the impact of water on cell performance and limiting processes can be gained in situ on a local scale in an operating PEFC. The method was applied to a PEFC operated on pure H₂/O₂ in co-flow mode under low humidity operating conditions. The results show that in co-flow mode strong flooding and severe drying can occur at the very same time in different sections of a PEFC.     

Experimental studies of biomass gasification with air

In this work,experimental studies of biomass gasification under different operating conditions were carried out in an updraft gasifier combined with a copper slag reformer.The influence of gasification temperature,equivalence ratio(ER) and copper slag catalyst addition on gas production and tar yield were investigated.The experimental results showed that the content of H2 and CO,gas yield and LHV increased,while the tar yield and the content of CO2,CH4 and C2Hx in the gas product decreased with the temperature.At 800C,with the increase of ER,the LHV,the tar yield and the content of H2,CO,CH4 and C2Hx in gas products decreased,while the gas yield and the content of CO2 increased.Copper slag was introduced into the secondary reformer for tar decomposition.The Fe3O4 phase in the fresh copper slag was reduced to FeO(Fe2+) and metallic Fe by the gas product.Fe species(FeO and metallic Fe) acted as the active sites for tar catalytic decomposition.The catalytic temperature had a significant influence on tar conversion and the composition of the gas product.Typically,the tar conversion of about 17%-54% could be achieved when the catalytic temperature was varied from 750 to 950 C.Also,the content of H2 and CO increased with the catalytic temperature,while that of CO2,CH4 and C2Hx in the gas product decreased.It was demonstrated that copper slag was a good catalyst for upgrading the gas product from biomass gasification.     

高温质子交换膜燃料电池的复合催化层电极

高温质子交换膜燃料电池具有耐毒化,稳定性好的优势,是具有较强应用前景的一种能源转换装置。 本文制备了具有复合催化层结构的气体扩散电极,用于增强燃料电池阳极的催化性能。 在气体扩散电极中,将偏氟乙烯-六氟丙烯共聚物和聚苯基咪唑聚合物作为催化剂的粘结材料,调节了电极界面的浸润结构。 通过对电极表面形貌和润湿性的表征,发现该种结构的催化层孔隙率和粗糙度更高,双层结构的润湿性差别明显(接触角分别为149°和19°),这有利于形成稳定的三相反应界面。 测试结果表明,该种结构的催化层能够有效提高催化材料的利用效率,燃料电池对氢气燃料的峰值功率密度提高约22%。 与此同时,使用含一氧化碳质量浓度为10000和30000 mg/m³的氢气燃料,电池峰值功率密度能够分别保持82.1%和71.4%,证明该燃料电池对一氧化碳杂质保持了良好的耐毒性。     

生物质流化床氧气-水蒸气气化实验研究

在小型流化床气化装置上进行了氧气-水蒸气气化实验,考察了原料、当量比、水蒸气配比、温度、二次风和床料对气化特性的影响。结果表明,原料中C和H含量越高,气化气中H₂和CO含量越高,焦油含量越低;当量比为0.27和水蒸气配比为0.6时,H₂含量达到最大值;温度的升高可提高H₂含量,在840 ℃以上,可提高CO含量;二次风从进料口偏上且二次风比率为15%通入,气体组分变化较明显,二次风通入点位置越高,焦油含量降低幅度越大;白云石和石灰石裂解焦油和提高H₂含量的活性高于橄榄石,但同时明显提高了气体中的灰分含量。     

载体对Pd-Cu/活性炭催化剂在消除卷烟主流烟气中CO活性的影响

采用等体积浸渍法制备了Pd-Cu/活性炭催化剂, 用脉冲反应考察了催化剂对模拟卷烟主流烟气(4.4 CO-4.2 H₂O-19.2 O₂-72.2 He)(体积分数, %)中CO的常温催化氧化性能, 系统研究了不同的活性炭载体对催化剂的CO常温氧化活性的影响. 研究表明, 在室温条件下, 催化剂对CO氧化反应的活性顺序为: 椰壳活性炭为载体的催化剂(CAC)<木质活性炭为载体的催化剂(WAC)<超级活性炭为载体的催化剂(SAC), 并且活性炭载体对催化剂的反应诱导期也存在显著的影响. 对催化剂的表征结果表明, 不同活性炭载体表面上含氧官能团含量不同, 影响催化剂表面Pd和Cu的存在状态, 使得SAC催化剂上的Pd只以Pd²⁺形式存在, 而CAC和WAC催化剂上的Pd以Pd²⁺和Pd⁰形式存在, 导致SAC催化剂比CAC和WAC两种催化剂具有更好的CO催化氧化活性. 使用催化剂接装的三段式复合滤嘴试验卷烟, 与对照卷烟相比, 卷烟主流烟气中CO的释放量都有所降低, 其中添加SAC催化剂的效果最为明显. 如果将Pd的负载量增加为3.4% (w), SAC催化剂对卷烟主流烟气中CO的去除率高达25.4%.     

Mass transfer in porous systems, flooded in part with water, of gas diffusion and catalytic layers of the cathode of a fuel cell with a solid polymer electrolyte

Mass transfer in porous gas diffusion and catalytic layers of the cathode of a hydrogen-air fuel cell with a solid polymer electrolyte is considered. The transport processes are considered with allowance made for the partial flooding of porous systems of these layers with water, which forms during the fuel cell operation. The consideration also allows for the influence of the diluent gas present when air oxygen is used as the oxidant. The fraction of water-flooded pores is calculated within percolation theory as a function of structural parameters of the porous system. Conditions leading to the beginning of the gas diffusion layer flooding are presented.