Electrolysis of carbon dioxide for carbon monoxide production in a tubular solid oxide electrolysis cell

An active carbon recycling energy system (ACRES) based on carbon recycling has been proposed as a new energy transformation system. This energy transformation system reduces the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere during the iron-making process. An experimental study for electrochemical CO production by CO2 electrolysis based on the ACRES concept was carried out using a tubular solid oxide electrolysis cell. Experimental results show that the CO and oxygen (O2) production rates at 800, 850, and 900 °C were almost proportional to the current passing through the cell. Both ionic conductivity and the chemical kinetics of CO2 decomposition increased with increasing temperature. The highest current density and CO production rate at 900 °C were 2.97 mA/cm2 and 0.78 μmol/(min cm2), respectively. On the basis of the electrolytic characteristics of the cell, the scale of the combined ACRES CO2 electrolysis/iron-making system was estimated.