Direct Ammonia SOFC

Nigel Sammes H.F. Coors Distinguished Professor in Ceramic Engineering Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Colorado School of Mines

Why SOFC and Why Ammonia? •  High efficiency

•  Efficient at part load •  Fast response • Use of many fuels (NH3)

SOFC/SOEC Basic Concept

Ammonia SOFC/SOEC – Potentially Reversible

SOEC or Hydrammine

Why Small and Micro-Tubular SOFC?   The small-scale tubular solid oxide

fuel cells (SOFC), have many advantages over larger tubular and planar designs, including:  Excellent thermal shock properties

giving rapid start-up ability,  High mechanical integrity  Easy and Cheap to Fabricate  Easy design for stacking and

manifolding

high efficiency on energy conversion and Selective reactions

Fuel Cells

Chemical　Syntheses

H2 Station

Ceramic reactor

APU for　Vehicles

Cube Cell

Environment Purifying

SOEC/SOFC Applications

NH3

Overview of SOFC/SOEC Program

Micro-tube cells are integrated in a porous cathode cube.

Cell Cube

• micro-tubular designed cell high thermal shock proof high productivity

• intermediate temperature operation (650oC) quick start-up (in a few minutes)

• modularized design

high cubic power density　

Modular

Concept

anode current-collector

electrolyte layer

cathode layer

cathode current-collector

anode support tube

Cell Fabrication Process The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to

50% Ni 50% 8YSZ

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Polymer Binder

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Water

Mixing

Vacuuming

Extrusion

Tube Cutting

Pre - firing

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(Anode)

Dip Coating

Drying

Sintering

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Brush Painting

Cathode Firing

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Anode Powder

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Polymer Binder

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Water

Mixing

Vacuuming

Extrusion

Tube Cutting

Pre - firing

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(Anode)

Electrolyte Coating

Drying

Sintering

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Brush Painting

Cathode Firing

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Powder Preparation and Mixing

Example of our Extrusion Capability

Support : Metal oxide-ceramic composite (200µm in thickness)

Electrolyte : Perovskite protonic ceramic (10-20µm in thickness)

Electrode : Metal oxide-ceramic composite (40µm in thickness)

Cell Preparation

0.8-1.8 mmΦ support tube

Electrolyte Application

Co-fired at 1450°C

Application of electrode

Sintered at 1000°C for 1 h.

0.8mm diameter anode tube

0.8mm diameter support tube with electrolyte

Fabrication of Micro-tubular Protonic Electrolyte on Anode Support

Details of the Perovskite Tube Microstructure

Protonic Perovskite (Sintered Material)

Test Set up for Ammonia in a PCFC and Production in a PCEC

NH3

PCEC

Results from PCFC Testing on Ammonia at 700oC

IV Curves at 700oC

Power Curves at 700oC