Liquid Tin Anode SOFC for Coal Conversion and Sulfur Tolerance

Liquid Tin Anode SOFC (LTA-SOFC) has demonstrated the ability to convert virtually any carbonaceous fuel directly to electricity, including solid fuels such as carbon and potentially coal. Three direct coal conversion concepts based on liquid tin anode have been explored indicating a feasibility of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ECS transactions 2012-01, Vol.41 (12), p.125-135
Main Authors: Tao, Thomas T., Koslowske, Mark, Bentley, Jeff, Brodie, Jonathan, MacKean, Conor
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Liquid Tin Anode SOFC (LTA-SOFC) has demonstrated the ability to convert virtually any carbonaceous fuel directly to electricity, including solid fuels such as carbon and potentially coal. Three direct coal conversion concepts based on liquid tin anode have been explored indicating a feasibility of 61% fuel efficiency on a MW plant scale. To direct convert coal in a LTA-SOFC for stationary power generation remains a technical challenge: coal contains substantial amount of impurities other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, and its direct conversion unavoidably brings non-fuel elements in direct contact with fuel cell components. These non-fuel components include coal ash, sulfur, and trace elements such as vanadium, chromium, phosphorous, etc. The concept of direct conversion of coal in a LTA-SOFC was demonstrated using Illinois #6 coal to determine the state of ash and impurities. Sulfur tolerance was confirmed using 3.5wt% H2S in hydrogen, and a direct conversion in liquid tin anode using Illinois #6 coal. Preliminary test results demonstrated feasibility of direct coal conversion in the LTA-SOFC.
ISSN:1938-5862
1938-6737
DOI:10.1149/1.3697435