Experimental Activity on a 100-W IT-SOFC Test Bench Fed by Simulated Syngas

Abstract

This work reports on the testing of a 1-W intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell stack (IT-SOFC). The stack was tested both in feeding conditions with pure hydrogen and with syngas. In the latter case, different types of feeding gas mixtures were considered that differ from each other in the composition of their gaseous substances and the quantity of CO in the mixtures. For cases of stack feeding with mixtures containing carbon monoxide, the influence of the reformer temperature on the output obtained was also evaluated. The stack operation was tested by changing some operating conditions such as the temperature of the SOFC stack and the fuel use factor. The polarization curves of the stack were obtained in order to vary the operating conditions. Furthermore, mapping of the stack performances in terms of electric efficiency and power produced was carried out.