Internal reforming of methane at Ni/YSZ and Ni/CGO SOFC cermet anodes

Abstract

The internal reforming of methane on Ni/CGO and Ni/YSZ anodes was investigated with single cells operated at steam to carbon ratios from 0 to 3 and at temperatures of 800 °C and 950 °C The incorporation of gas extraction ports allowed the measurement of the local gas composition in the anode gas compartment by gas chromatography. The methane conversion is presented as a function of feed gas composition, temperature, gas flow velocity, and electrical load. The impact of the anode material on the reforming reaction and on cell performance is shown. Methane conversion along the Ni/CGO anode was calculated with a one-dimensional model; the required kinetic parameters were obtained by data fitting. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.