Use of sulfur-containing fuels for direct oxidation fuel cells
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorsRaymond J. Gorte, John M. Vohs
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Abstract
Provided are solid oxide fuel cells that include a solid electrolyte and a porous ceramic anode, the fuel cells being capable of operating on a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel having a sulfur content of from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm and an oxygen source. Also provided are processes of producing electrical energy with the disclosed fuel cells.
Claims33
A solid oxide fuel cell system capable of directly operating with a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel that does not undergo prior treatment to remove organic sulfur compounds, comprising:
- (a) a solid electrolyte comprising an electronic insulator that allows transfer of anions;
- (b) an essentially nickel-free porous anode containing at least ceria deposited in the pores, the anode further comprising a ceramic, and at least a portion of the anode being bound to the electrolyte;
- (c) a cathode;
- (d) a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon having 2 or more carbons, and the fuel being characterized as having a sulfur content of from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm;
- and
- (e) an oxygen source;
- wherein the solid electrolyte and the porous anode overlap one another so as to define a region of physical contact between one another, the region of physical contact being characterized as an essentially uninterrupted interface.
A process of producing electrical energy, comprising:
- (a) providing a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of directly operating with a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel that does not undergo prior treatment to remove organic sulfur compounds, the solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
- a solid oxide electrolyte comprising an electronic insulator that allows transfer of anions;
- an essentially nickel-free porous anode containing at least ceria deposited in the pores, the anode further comprising a ceramic, and at least a portion of the anode being bound to the electrolyte;
- and
- a cathode, and
- a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon having two or more carbons, and the fuel being characterized as having a sulfur content of from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm,
- wherein the solid electrolyte and the anode overlap one another so as to define a region of physical contact between one another, the region of physical contact being characterized as an essentially uninterrupted interface,
- (b) contacting the cathode with an oxygen source;
- and
- (c) contacting the porous anode with the fuel.
A solid oxide fuel cell system capable of directly operating with a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel that does not undergo prior treatment to remove organic sulfur compounds, comprising:
- (a) a solid electrolyte comprising an electronic insulator that allows transfer of anions;
- (b) an essentially nickel-free porous anode containing at least copper deposited in the pores, the anode further comprising a ceramic, and at least a portion of the anode being bound to the electrolyte;
- (c) a cathode;
- (d) a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon having 2 or more carbons, and the fuel being characterized as having a sulfur content of from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm;
- and
- (e) an oxygen source;
- wherein the solid electrolyte and the porous anode overlap one another so as to define a region of physical contact between one another, the region of physical contact being characterized as an essentially uninterrupted interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.