SOFC stack testing at Prototech - measurements for stable stack operation International Symposium on Diagnostic Tools for Fuel Cell Technologies Trondheim, 23 June 2009 Helge Weydahl, Ivar Wærnhus, Tomas Ryberg, Jarle Farnes, Arild Vik Prototech AS
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 3 Outline � About Prototech � Requirements for stable SOFC operation � BioCellus � BKK pilot plant � Conclusion
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 4 Prototech AS � Prototech is a provider of technical solutions, product design and manufacturing services covering application areas from space to consumer products
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 5 Prototech � A part of the Christian Michelsen Research (CMR) group � Prototech has been involved in fuel cell development since 1991 � 40 employees, revenue 47 MNOK (5.3 M€)
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 6 A selection of fuel cell activities � Solid oxide fuel cells Credit: NOAA
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 7 A selection of fuel cell activities � Solid oxide fuel cells � Regenerative fuel cell (PEM) systems for telecom satellites Credit: NOAA
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 8 A selection of fuel cell activities � Solid oxide fuel cells � Regenerative fuel cell (PEM) systems for telecom satellites � High temperature PEM fuel cell system for small passenger ferry
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 9 A selection of fuel cell activities � Solid oxide fuel cells � Regenerative fuel cell (PEM) systems for telecom satellites � High temperature PEM fuel cell system for small passenger ferry � Production of electricity and hydrogen from natural gas with integrated CO 2 capture (ZEG) Credit: NOAA
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 10 Requirements for stable SOFC operation � Sufficient air supply to cathode � Sufficient fuel supply to anode � Sufficient steam supply to anode H 2 + ½ O 2 ↔ H 2 O Control of oxygen partial pressure on anode: � Low fuel supply → shift of equilibrium towards higher oxygen partial pressure → oxidation of anode � Low steam supply → shift of equilibrium towards lower oxygen partial pressure → extraction of oxygen from ceramic interconnects
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 11 Measured parameters � Cell voltages � Stack temperature On the wish list: � Gas flow distribution � Gas flow composition
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 12 BioCellus - SOFC on biomass CH 4 + H 2 Heat E l � Project sponsored by the EU 6th framework programme � TU Munich, TU Delft, NTUA and other European partners � Develop and demonstrate SOFC operating on gasified biomass
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 13 BioCellus - SOFC on biomass CH 4 + H 2 Heat E l � CO 2 neutral electricity production � Heat from SOFC used as input for gasifier (temperature ~900 o C) � Plant efficiency (biomass to electricity): 50% (60% with steam cycle)
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 14 BioCellus – SOFC on biomass � First SOFC stack operated on real woodgas � About 12 hours operation on woodgas � No degradation observed during test
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 15 BioCellus – SOFC on biomass � Stack voltage and current upon increase in load 36 35 Current (A), Stack voltage (V) 34 33 32 Current Stack voltage 31 30 29 28 27 16:09:07 16:12:00 16:14:53 16:17:46 16:20:38 16:23:31 Time
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 16 BioCellus – SOFC on biomass � Decreasing trend in cell voltage indicates insufficient fuel supply from the gasifier 0.8 0.75 Average cell voltage (V) V40-V36 V36-V-32 V32-V24 0.7 V24-V8 V8-V4 V4-CC 0.65 0.6 16:09:07 16:12:00 16:14:53 16:17:46 16:20:38 16:23:31 Time
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 17 BKK pilot plant - SOFC for CHP � 3+3 kW SOFC plant for combined heat and power - designed and manufactured by Prototech � Sponsored by BKK and Innovation Norway � Operating on natural gas at Kollsnes Industrial Park (LNG plant at the west coast of Norway)
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 18 BKK pilot plant - SOFC for CHP BKK-pilot BKK - Pilot 60 1600 45 600 Stack voltage Stack 2 Current A 40 Curremt 1400 S2 C40 V 50 500 Power Power 35 1200 40 Stack voltage (V) 30 400 1000 Stack Voltage (V) Power (W) Power (W) 25 30 800 300 20 600 20 15 200 400 10 10 100 200 5 0 0 0 0 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Time (hours) Time (hours) � 1800 hours of operation � Max. temperature ~800 ºC � Stable SOFC performance under regular operating conditions
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 19 BKK pilot plant - SOFC for CHP � Unstable water supply to reformer (clogged water filter) resulted in fluctuating stack voltage 40 35 30 Stack voltage (V) 25 20 15 10 5 Current Stack voltage 0 750 760 770 780 790 800 Time (hours)
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 20 Conclusion � Stable operation under regular operating conditions � Monitoring of cell voltage and temperature is sufficient to ensure stable operation of SOFC stacks � Monitoring of fuel supply distribution and composition would be a useful tool for optimisation of stack design
SOFC stack testing at Prototech 21
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