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Influence of Reduction Pretreatment and Methane Reforming on Nickel Solubility in YSZ Grains and Nickel Sintering within Ni-YSZ SOFC Anode Materials

Conference ·
OSTI ID:1015531
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Internal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels (e.g. methane or natural gas) can improve the thermal efficiency of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) by balancing exothermic electrochemical oxidation of H2 and CO at the anode/cathode interface with endothermic steam reforming reactions on the anode1. Generally the rate of reforming is much greater than the rate of H2 and CO oxidation leading to extensive thermal gradients across the cell that can compromise the physical integrity of the cell. Therefore, methods to control reformation activity and predict thermal gradients are needed. Computational modeling is used to predict thermal gradients and fuel conversion profiles across the cell, thus accurate and predictable methane reforming kinetics are required. Significant discrepancies in activation energy, rate expressions, and rate constants for methane reforming over nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) are reported in the open literature1-4. The objective of this work is to provide clarity on factors leading to discrepancies in kinetic information reported in the literature and identify potential methods to control reforming rates over NiYSZ anodes. Effects of pretreatment and reforming on Ni microstructure and activity of NiYSZ anodes for methane reforming were examined under open-circuit conditions.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1015531
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-67016; 26712; 20792a; AA2530000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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03 NATURAL GAS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ACTIVATION ENERGY
ANODES
CHEMISTRY
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
METHANE
MICROSTRUCTURE
NATURAL GAS
NICKEL
NiYSZ
OXIDATION
SIMULATION
SINTERING
SOFC
SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS
SOLUBILITY
STEAM
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
catalysis
fuel cell
internal reforming
methane reforming