Detailed modelling of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell

K. Tseronis, I.S. Fragkopoulos* and C. Theodoropoulos

Contact Details:

Ioannis S. Fragkopoulos The University of Manchester School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science (CEAS) Room B7 | The Mill | M1 3AL

Email: ioannis.fragkopoulos@manchester.ac.uk LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/pub/ioannis-s-fragkopoulos/74/491/bb7/

Ioannis S. Fragkopoulos, AMIChemE EPSRC Post Doctoral Prize Research Fellow

PhD in Chemical Engineering, 2014 The University of Manchester, UK

5-year Diploma in Chemical Engineering, 2009 University of Patras, Greece

SOFC Catalytic Steam Reforming

Conclusions & Future Work Development of a comprehensive, 2-dimensional,

multicomponent, non-isothermal, dynamic model

• for the investigation of the thermal and electrochemical

phenomena of a planar DIR-SOFC

using a mixture of H2, H2O, CH4, CO, CO2 as a fuel.

Validation of the model using experimental data for

• a wide range of operating conditions and design parameters.

References

1. R.J. Braun, in: Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2002.

2. K. Tseronis, I.K. Kookos, C. Theodoropoulos, Chem. Eng. Sci., 2008; 63:5626-5638.

3. K. Tseronis, I. Bonis, I.K. Kookos, C. Theodoropoulos, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2012;

37:530-547.

4. J. Liu, S.A. Barnett, Solid State Ionics, 2003; 158:11-16.

5. K. Tseronis, I.S. Fragkopoulos, I. Bonis, C. Theodoropoulos, J. Power Sources. Submitted

The Computational Domain (cross section)

Direct Internal Reforming (DIR) SOFC Model

Results5

Validation: Polarisation Curve

Motivation & Objectives Reduction of environmental pollution is an issue of great concern nowadays.

The development of cleaner and more efficient energy conversion methods

that will address the conflicting issues of energy production and environmental pollution

• is of crucial importance.

Schematic of Physics in each SOFC subdomain

H2/O2 Partial Pressure Profiles Temperature Profile Operating Voltage (VC) and Power Density (PC) Profiles

Acknowledgements

KT was supported by the EU Marie Curie Programme ExPERT MEST-CT-2004-503750. ISF wishes to acknowledge the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for the financial support (Grant EP/G022933/1) and also the support through his EPSRC doctoral prize fellowship 2013/2014.

Model predictions vs. Experimental Data 4

For T=1123K, 𝒚𝑯𝟐0=0.8 and 𝒚𝑶𝟐

0=0.21

MSR reaction endothermic effect For TIN (1073K, 1123K, 1173K)

For wACL (5x10-5 m, 10-4, 2x10-4m)

*Reproduced from 1

Mass transport phenomena simulation was performed

• through the combination of the SMM and the DGM formulation.

The MSR reaction is much slower than the WGS reaction

• therefore its reaction rate is based on a kinetic approach

• while the WGS one is based on an equilibrium assumption.

Strong cooling effect near the inlet of the fuel channel

• due to the highly endothermic MSR reaction.

The performance of the DIR-SOFC

• can be improved by higher temperature operation

• since the increase in temperature

has a decreasing effect on the overpotentials.

The effect of the anode catalyst layer’s thickness

• on the DIR-SOFC performance is not significant.

Formulation of a non-isothermal, planar DIR-SOFC

• using a mixture of H2, H2O, CH4, CO, CO2 as a fuel.

Mass transport through the combination of

• the Stefan-Maxwell model (SMM)

• and the Dusty-Gas model (DGM). 2,3

The Methane-Steam Reforming (MSR) Reaction

The Water-Gas Shift (WGS) Reaction

4 2 23 CH H O CO H

-1

1073H 242 kJ molo

K ,

2 2 2CO H O CO H ,

-1

1073H 38.6 kJ molo

K

Uses of Fuel Cells Stationery Power Transportation Portable Power

Siemens Westinghouse 250kW

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

(DMFC) Battery Charger

The main objective of this work is the formulation of an efficient solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) model

taking into account internal reforming (IR) kinetics so as to be employed

• for IR-SOFC design and optimisation purposes or as a tool

• to provide better understanding of the complex interrelates processes

o taking place in an IR-SOFC.