Electricity production from lignocellulosic biomass by direct coupling of a gasifier and a nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia-based solid oxide fuel cell: influence of the H2S content of the syngas onto performances and aging

• Published in: Journal of solid state electrochemistry 2018-09, Vol.22 (9), p.2789-2800
• Main Authors: Ricoul, F., Subrenat, A., Joubert, O., Le Gal La Salle, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical Sciences; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composition; Condensed Matter Physics; Current density; Downdraft; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Gasification; Hydrogen sulfide; Lignocellulose; Material chemistry; Nickel compounds; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Poisoning; Solid oxide fuel cells; Synthesis gas; Yttria-stabilized zirconia; Yttrium oxide; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 1432-8488; 1433-0768
• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-018-3961-8

The aim of this work is to study the reactivity of a Ni-YSZ-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fueled with gaseous mixtures having the same composition as the syngas issued from a fixed-bed downdraft and staged gasification pilot. The syngas issued from the gasifier contains some ppm(v) of H 2 S, and in order to adapt the purification process, the influence of this compound on the Ni-YSZ-based SOFCs is evaluated at 600 and 850 °C. The influence of H 2 S depends on fuel composition, temperature but also of current density. In H 2 –N 2 mixtures and only at 600 °C, a significant decrease of cell performances is observed for H 2 S > 4.5 ppm(v). For H 2 –CO–CO 2 –N 2 mixtures, the influence is more important since a small decrease of performance can be observed for 1 ppm(v) of H 2 S even at 850 °C. Nevertheless, at 600 °C, it is possible to avoid damage by limiting the current density. Aging experiments, realized at 750 °C, show that the influence of 1 and 2 ppm(v) of H 2 S is more important during the first 20 h and is reversible: at this temperature, after poisoning with 1 ppm(v) of H 2 S during 72 h, the cell recovers 91% of its initial power density after 100 h in pure hydrogen, and after subsequent poisoning with 2 ppm(v) of H 2 S during 77 h, the cell recovers 94% of its initial power density after 168 h in pure hydrogen.