Operation of a solid oxide fuel cell on a reformed FAME mixture

The operation of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a reformed fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) mixture a biodiesel-like fuel, has been successfully demonstrated. This project had two main aspects: 1) determining the fuel reforming activity of a pyrochlore catalyst deposited onto a monolith; and 2) operating a SOFC on reformed fuel gas. Prior to integrated testing, parametric reforming studies of the FAME mixture were conducted using both Rh/γ-Al2O3 and Rh-substituted pyrochlore catalyst powders to determine the operating conditions to maximize syngas selectivity. Using the same pyrochlore catalyst as in the parametric studies, a monolith reformer converted 0.5 cm3 min−1 of the FAME mixture into mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide (syngas). The syngas generated in the reformer was sent to an anode supported SOFC (H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH & Co.) The SOFC operated on 98% H2/2% H2O for baseline testing before and after switching to the reformed FAME mixture for 100 h of operation. The results presented here demonstrate that FAME mixture can be successfully reformed to power a SOFC, making them a viable fuel for a SOFC-based auxiliary power unit that is both greenhouse gas neutral and renewable.

► Successfully demonstrated the operation of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a reformed biodiesel-like fuel.
► Used a patented Rh-substituted pyrochlore catalyst, which was coated on a monolith, to reform the biodiesel.
► SOFC operated for 100 h on the reformed FAME mixture without significant increase in fuel cell resistance.