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http://dx.doi.org/10.7464/ksct.2012.18.4.426

Improved Performance of Direct Carbon Fuel Cell by Catalytic Gasification of Ash-free Coal  

Jin, Sunmi (Graduate School of Green Energy Technology, Chungnam National University)
Yoo, Jiho (Clean Fuel Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research)
Rhee, Young Woo (Graduate School of Green Energy Technology, Chungnam National University)
Choi, Hokyung (Clean Fuel Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research)
Lim, Jeonghwan (Clean Fuel Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research)
Lee, Sihyun (Clean Fuel Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research)
Publication Information
Clean Technology / v.18, no.4, 2012 , pp. 426-431 More about this Journal
Abstract
Carbon-rich coal can be utilized as a fuel for direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC). However, left-behind ash after the electrochemical oxidation may hinder the electrochemical reactions. In this study, we produced ash-free coal (AFC) by thermal extraction and then tested it as a fuel for DCFC. DCFC was built based on solid oxide electrolyte and the electrochemical performance of AFC mixed with $K_2CO_3$ was compared with AFC only. Significantly enhanced power density was found by catalytic steam gasification of AFC. However, an increase of the power density by catalytic pyrolysis was negligible. This result indicated that a catalyst activated the steam gasification reactions, producing much more $H_2$ and thus increasing the power density, compared to AFC only. Results of a quantitative analysis showed much improved kinetics in AFC with $K_2CO_3$ in agreement with DCFC results. A secondary phase of potassium on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) surface was observed after the cell operation. This probably caused poor long-term behavior of AFC with $K_2CO_3$. A thin YSZ (30 ${\mu}m$ thick) was found to be higher in the power density than 0.9 mm of YSZ.
Keywords
Ash-free coal; Direct carbon fuel cell; Catalytic coal gasification; Solid oxide fuel cell; $K_2CO_3$;
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