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Multi-Constituent Airborne Contaminants Capture with Low Cost Oxide Getters and Mitigation of Cathode Poisoning in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2228422· OSTI ID:2228422
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States); University of Connecticut
The technical effort and scientific findings, discussed in this report, documents operational barriers and associated long term performance stability challenges posed by the presence of trace airborne multi-constituent contaminants present in high-temperature electrochemical systems, including Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs), Ion Transport Membranes, and Gas Separation systems. Above systems, offering promises for cleanliness and energy efficiency, face challenges with electrode poisoning stemming from the presence of trace contaminants including gaseous Cr/B/Si vapors in the presence of intrinsic contaminants SO2/CO2/H2O gases. The study indicates that the long-term electrical performance degradation in SOFC systems can be traced to electrochemical, structural, and mechanical changes across cell, stack, and balance of plant components resulting from interactions with trace contaminants leading to increase in both ohmic and non-ohmic polarizations. The degradation primarily results from solid-state and gas-phase materials migration, electrode poisoning, and interactions at the cell and stack levels. Cathode degradation emerges as a significant factor impacting overall SOFC performance, especially related to the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic airborne impurities such as SOx, CrOx(OH)y, SOx, Si(OH)x, and HBOx. Although at trace levels, prolong systems operation at higher airflow (3-10X stoichiometric) allow the accumulation of contaminants within the cell components leading to electrical performance degradation through poisoning and electrode deactivation.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
DOE Contract Number:
FE0031647
OSTI ID:
2228422
Report Number(s):
FE--0031647
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English