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Anode Fluidization of a Liquid Tin Anode SOFC Operated on Simulated Syngas

Friday, 28 July 2017: 15:00
Grand Ballroom West (The Diplomat Beach Resort)
T. Cao, Y. Shi, and N. Cai (Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University)
Liquid tin has been widely employed as anodes in SOFCs to digest carbonaceous fuels. Liquid tin anode SOFCs fed on methane, kerosene, and carbon black have been successfully constructed and operated. However, the formation of a SnO2 blocking film at electrochemical reactive sites hinders further electrochemical reaction and impedes steady power generation of the fuel cell system. Here we manage to suppress the formation of isolating SnO2 film by anode fluidization. Tubular liquid tin anode SOFC has been fabricated and tested in present work. Fuels (H2 and simulated syngas with different H2/CO ratio) are supplied to the electrochemical reactive interface between the anode and the electrolyte via a manner of bubbling bed. H2 was found to effectively reduce SnO2 formed when the SOFC was discharged at a constant potential of 0.45V, and anode fluidization has doubled the fuel cell’s power output. We anticipate that anode fluidization in this study will principally simplify the configuration of liquid tin anode SOFC and maintain the stable operation of the fuel cell system.