New fuel cell design is safer to use and burns hydrocarbons directly

Researchers at the Michigan Technological University have devised a new fuel cell design that can directly use methane or other hydrocarbon fuels to provide energy. This could pave the way for future applications with low carbon emissions.

Most fuel cells are powered by hydrogen sourced from compounds such as methane using a process called reforming. Not only is the processing time-consuming, but it is also expensive and results inFor commercial applications, fuel flexibility in fuel cells is important, and a team of researchers at MTU led by Yun Hang Hu, a professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering, has delivered this capability, at least in a prototype.

Typically, SOFCs operate at temperatures above 1472 Fahrenheit since solid electrolytes have low ion transfer rates at lower temperatures. Hu's research resulted in a carbonate-superstructure solid fuel cell that delivered fast ion transfers at temperatures as low as 878 Fahrenheit . Theoretically, lower operating temperatures offer high efficiency and lower fabrication costs. He is also confident that it will make them safer to operate when compared to other solid fuel cells.With hydrocarbon fuels, though, lower operating temperatures are problematic since they slow down fuel oxidation and cause coking - accumulation of carbon deposits, further reducingTo test their hypothesis, Hu's team fabricated a device prototype in the lab and put it through some tests.

Hu also estimates that the CSSFC fuel efficiency could reach as much as 60 percent. In comparison, combustion engines being phased out today have energy efficiencies of not more than 35 percent. The CSSFC's higher efficiency could also mean lower emissions in vehicles and power plants.A basic requirement for solid oxide fuel cells is the sintering of electrolyte into a dense impermeable membrane to prevent the mixing of fuel and oxygen for a sufficiently high open-circuit voltage .

There are more efficient ways to use hydrocarbons.

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