# US 7,745,026 B2 · Direct carbon fueled solid oxide fuel cell or high temperature battery

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- Number: US 7,745,026 B2
- Document ID: US7745026B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/231,113
- Filed: 2005-09-20
- Published: 2007-03-22
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-20
- Assignees: Gas Technology Institute
- Inventors: Qinbai Fan; Renxuan Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745026B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/1233: with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
- H01M 4/9016: {Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts}
- H01M 8/1246: the electrolyte consisting of oxides
- H01M 4/8657: {layered}
- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- H01M 2004/8684: {Negative electrodes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A direct carbon fuel electrochemical device and method for generating electricity. The apparatus includes a solid oxide electrolyte having an anode side and a cathode side. Carbon and at least one metal oxide are provided to the anode side for reaction at the anode and air is provided to the cathode side. At least a portion of the carbon is oxidized and at least a portion of the metal oxide is reduced to a metal or lower oxide metal oxide on the anode side. The metal or lower oxide metal oxide is electrochemically reoxidized with oxygen in the air, thereby generating electricity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In an electrochemical device having a solid oxide electrolyte having an anode side and a cathode side, a method for generating electricity comprising the steps of:
providing a mixture of solid carbon fuel and at least one metal oxide to said anode side of said solid oxide electrolyte;
providing oxygen to said cathode side of said solid oxide electrolyte;
oxidizing at least a portion of said solid carbon fuel and reducing at least a portion of said metal oxide to at least one of a metal and a lower oxide metal oxide; and
electrochemically reoxidizing said at least one of said metal and said lower oxide metal oxide with said oxygen, thereby generating electricity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid carbon fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, coke, lignite, graphites and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of MnO2, Y2O3, ZrO2, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid carbon fuel is continuously provided to said anode side of said solid oxide electrolyte.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid oxide electrolyte comprises a porous zirconia cloth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said solid oxide electrolyte further comprises a metal oxide slurry powder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said oxidation and reduction are carried out at a temperature in a range of about 600° to about 900° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid carbon fuel is oxidized to form carbon dioxide and said oxygen is consumed on said cathode side to generate O2−.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrochemical device is air-breathing on said cathode side.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid carbon fuel comprises at least one impurity.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solid carbon fuel comprises at least one of sulfur and mercury.

### Claim 12

In an electrochemical device comprising a solid oxide electrolyte having an anode side and a cathode side, a method for generating electricity comprising the steps of:
providing a mixture of solid carbon fuel and at least one metal oxide to said anode side of said solid oxide electrolyte;
oxidizing said solid carbon fuel and reducing said at least one metal oxide to one of a metal and a lower oxide metal oxide on said anode side of said solid oxide electrolyte; and
electrochemically reoxidizing said one of said metal and said lower oxide metal oxide with oxygen from said cathode side, thereby generating electricity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said solid carbon fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, coke, lignite, graphites, chars, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one metal oxide is an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Ta, Ti, Ag, Mn, Mo, Zr, Y, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said solid oxide electrolyte comprises a porous zirconia cloth and a metal oxide slurry.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said solid carbon fuel is continuously fed to said anode side.