Enhanced electrochemical oxidation of carbonaceous deposits in liquid-hydrocarbon fueled solid oxide fuel cells

A method of removing carbonaceous deposits in a liquid-hydrocarbon fueled solid oxide fuel cell, the method comprising:

• providing a solid oxide fuel cell system comprising an anode, a cathode, a solid oxide electrolyte oriented between the anode and cathode, an amplifier cathode disposed proximate the solid oxide electrolyte and the cathode, a fuel cell electric circuit electrically connecting the anode and the cathode, and an amplifier electric circuit comprising at least one battery, potentiostat, or galvanostat electrically connecting the anode and the amplifier cathode;
• monitoring a power reaction speed of the solid oxide fuel cell system;
• operating the amplifier electric circuit in an electrolytic mode to electrically power the amplifier cathode, wherein the amplifier cathode generates and supplies O2− or CO32− to the anode;
• removing the carbonaceous deposits on the anode by converting the carbonaceous deposits to carbon dioxide gas via reaction with the O2− or CO32− and expelling the carbon dioxide gas;
• and
• adjusting the current supplied to the amplifier electric circuit to obtain steady-state operation of the removal of the carbonaceous deposits on the anode.

A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:

• an anode,
• a cathode,
• a solid oxide electrolyte oriented between the anode and cathode, an amplifier cathode disposed proximate the solid oxide electrolyte and the cathode,
• a fuel cell electric circuit electrically connecting the anode and the cathode,
• an amplifier electric circuit electrically connecting the anode and the amplifier cathode;
• and
• a liquid fuel atomizer located to distribute the liquid-hydrocarbon fuel across the anode, wherein
• the amplifier electric circuit operates in an electrolytic mode to electrically power the amplifier cathode which generates and supplies O2− or CO32− to the anode to remove carbonaceous deposits on the anode by converting the carbonaceous deposits to carbon dioxide gas via reaction with the O2− or CO32− to produce carbon dioxide gas.