Direct operation of cone-shaped anode-supported segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cell stack with methane

Operation of cone-shaped anode-supported segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cell (SIS-SOFC) stack directly on methane is studied. A cone-shaped solid oxide fuel cell stack is assembled by connecting 11 cone-shaped anode-supported single cells in series. The 11-cell-stack provides a maximum power output of about 8 W (421.4 mW cm−2 calculated using active cathode area) at 800 °C and 6 W (310.8 mW cm−2) at 700 °C, when operated with humidified methane fuel. The maximum volumetric power density of the stack is 0.9 W cm−3 at 800 °C. Good stability is observed during 10 periods of thermal cycling test. SEM-EDX measurements are taken for analyzing the microstructures and the coking degrees.