Objectives

• The investigation of triode design and operation in SOFC technology;
• The investigation of the synergetic effect of advanced Ni‐based cermet anodes modified via doping with a second or a third metal in conjunction with triode operation, in order to control the rate of carbon deposition and sulphur poisoning;
• The development of a detailed mathematical model in order to describe the triode mechanism at the molecular level;
• Proof of the triode concept through the development and performance evaluation of a prototype triode stack.

Impact

The demonstration of triode architectures is expected to enhance SOFC power output and overall thermodynamic efficiency while primarily offering a unique tool for controlling the rate of carbon deposition and poisoning by fuel impurities. A synergetic phenomenon, which will combine the advanced characteristics of modified Ni-based cermet and triode cell design should therefore significantly improve efficiency in direct hydrocarbon SOFCs and reduce deactivation rates. This enables reliable operation even at substantially lower temperatures with a wide range of usable fuels.

Overview

The development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) operating on hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas, biofuel, LPG) is the key to their short to medium term broad commercialization. The development of direct HC SOFCs still meets a lot of challenges and problems arising from the fact that the anode materials operate under severe conditions leading to low activity towards reforming and oxidation reactions, fast deactivation due to carbon formation and instability due to the presence of sulphur compounds. Although research on these issues is intensive, no major technological breakthroughs have been realized so far with respect to robust operation, sufficient lifetime and competitive cost.

T-CELL proposes a novel electrochemical approach aiming at tackling these problems by a comprehensive effort to define, explore, characterize, develop and realize a radically new triode approach to SOFC technology together with a novel, advanced architecture for cell and stack design. This advance will be accomplished by means of an integrated approach based both on materials development and on the deployment of an innovative cell design that permits the effective control of electrocatalytic activity under steam or dry reforming conditions. The novelty of the proposed work lies in the pioneering effort to apply Ni-modified materials electrodes of proven advanced tolerance, as anodic electrodes in SOFCs and in the exploitation of the novel triode SOFC concept which introduces a new controllable variable into fuel cell operation.

In order to provide a proof-of-concept of the stackability of triode cells, a prototype triode SOFC stack consisting of at least 4 repeating units will be developed and its performance will be evaluated under methane and steam co-feed, in presence of small concentration of sulphur compound.

Success of the overall ambitious objectives of the proposed project will result in major progress beyond the current state-of-the-art and will open entirely new perspectives in cell and stack design.