The Impact of the Organic Form of Sulphur Originating from Coal on the Performance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract:

De-ashed coal samples involving from 0 to 0.6 %wt organic sulphur were investigated as solid fuels in a direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC). Prior to electrochemical investigations, the corrosion resistance of cell components in the coal bed was investigated at 900°C for 500h. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed the presence of sulphur on the surface of the yttria fully-stabilised zirconia (8 %mol Y₂O₃ in ZrO₂, 8YSZ) as well as the surface of the Ni-8YSZ cermet anode following these tests. The electrochemical oxidation of coal on the surface of 8YSZ as well as that of the Ni-8YSZ cermet anode was investigated at a temperature range of 580–850°C. It was found that the presence of the organic form of sulphur as an impurity of coal caused a more rapid decrease in current during operation of a DC-SOFC with an 8YSZ electrolyte under load. The unfavourable impact of this form of sulphur on the electrochemical oxidation of coal on the Ni-8YSZ surface is more complicated than in the case of the 8YSZ electrolyte. In the DC-SOFC with Ni-8YSZ anode material, the presence of organic form of sulphur in de-ashed coal leads to depreciation of the Ni-8YSZ anode material.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 227)
• Pages: 341-344
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.227.341
• Online since: January 2015
• Authors: Magdalena Dudek*
• Keywords: CoAl, Direct Carbon Fuel Cell, Solid Oxide Electrolyte, Yttria Stabilized Zirconia

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