Study of a renewable biomass fueled SOFC: The effect of catalysts

• Demonstration of a solid oxide fuel cell powered by coconut shell carbon.
• Combined solid oxide fuel cell and gasification design.
• Iron oxides are good catalysts for steam-carbon reaction.
• K2CO3 is a good catalyst for CO2-carbon reaction.

This study demonstrated the feasibility of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating on fuels gasified from a carbon-bed containing a renewable biomass. Coconut shell carbon was used as the renewable biomass for the gasification to power the SOFC at 800 °C. The study was particularly focused on the effect of catalysts on the efficiency of the gasification process, thus the performance of tubular SOFC powered by these gasified fuels. SOFCs with catalysts such as Fe2O3 and K2CO3 added coconut shell carbon showed higher power density compared to that without catalyst. The improved cell performance can be ascribed to a promoted carbon conversion rate by the catalysts, and consequently higher concentration of gaseous fuels.