Top

Thermal Engineering

Published in:

01-08-2023 | RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND HYDROPOWER

Reforming of Hydrocarbon Fuel in Electrochemical Systems (Review)

Authors: A. A. Filimonova, A. A. Chichirov, N. D. Chichirova, A. V. Pechenkin

Published in: Thermal Engineering | Issue 8/2023

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

A review is presented of the designs and principles of operation of the systems for conversion of hydrocarbon fuel into synthesis gas (or syngas) to be used for energy generation in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Most SOFC systems employ methane or methane-rich (biogas, natural gas, industrial or petrochemical waste, etc.) as fuel due to their availability and ease of handling in contrast with hydrogen. The fuel-processing subsystem comprises approximately 50% of the overall electrochemical power facility. The generated heat, which is required for methane reforming, is recycled in fuel cells. Steam needed for the conversion of hydrocarbon fuel is generated in the anode compartment of the fuel cell or in an external steam generator recovering the heat of the exhaust gases of the fuel cell. The employed methods include steam reforming, partial oxidation of methane, carbon dioxide reforming of methane, and autothermal reforming. Steam reforming is the most extensively studied and widely used method. External reforming is employed for conversion of complex hydrocarbon fuels. For methane or natural gas, internal reforming is usually sufficient if the fuel recirculation ratio and steam to carbon and carbon to oxygen ratios are properly kept. Comparison of the existing methods for the production of syngas for SOFCs has revealed that steam reforming features the maximum steam consumption and the highest efficiency of the process. The partial oxidation of methane is an unsafe process due to the use of pure oxygen. Despite its low efficiency, the carbon dioxide conversion of methane offers the recovery of carbon dioxide and contributes additionally to decarbonization of the process. The autothermal reforming has merits of the steam reforming and the methane partial oxidation, but its implementation is a great challenge.

previous article Multi-objective Optimization of Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers According to Different Expressions of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

next article The Effect of High-Temperature Superconducting Current Limiters on Short-Circuit Fault Clearing

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

D. Thiruselvi, A. Kumar Madhava, P. Senthil Kumar, and C.-H. Lay, “A critical review on global trends in biogas scenario with its up-gradation techniques for fuel cell and future perspectives,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 46, 16734–16750 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.023CrossRef

R. N. Nakashi̇ma and S. De Oli̇vei̇ra, “Thermodynamic evaluation of solid oxide fuel cells converting biogas into hydrogen and electricity,” Int. J. Therm. Sci. 24, 204–214 (2021). https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.877847CrossRef

J. Liu and J.-H. Ryu, “Combined heat, hydrogen and power production from seaweed biogas-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system,” Chem. Eng. Trans. 80, 163–168 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3303/CET2080028CrossRef

V. A. Sednin and A. A. Chichko, “Effect significance assessment of the thermodynamical factors on the solid oxide fuel cell operation,” Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Energ. Ob’edin. SNG, Energ., No. 6, 87–97 (2015).

S. Sengodan, J. Humphreys, R. Lan, and D. Du, “Advances in reforming and partial oxidation of hydrocarbons for hydrogen production and fuel cell applications,” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 82, 761–780 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.071CrossRef

S. Nirmal Kumar, S. Appari, and B. V. R. Kuncharam, “Techniques for overcoming sulfur poisoning of catalyst employed in hydrocarbon reforming,” Catal. Surv. Asia 25, 362–388 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10563-021-09340-wCrossRef

J. Hanna, S. Yixiang, A. Ghoniem, and W. Y. Lee, “Fundamentals of electro and thermochemistry in the anode of solid-oxide fuel cells with hydrocarbon and syngas fuels,” Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 40, 74–111 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2013.10.001CrossRef

A. Buonomano, F. Calise, M. Dentice, and A. Palombo, “Hybrid solid oxide fuel cells–gas turbine systems for combined heat and power: A review,” Appl. Energy 156, 32–85 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.06.027CrossRef

A. V. Samoilov, D. A. Agarkov, Yu. S. Fedotov, and S. I. Bredikhin, “Internal conversion in the membrane-supported SOFC,” ECS Meet. Abstr. MA2021-03, 211–219 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1149/MA2021-03133mtgabs

10.

A. Choudhury, H. Chandra, and A. Arora, “Application of solid oxide fuel cell technology for power generation: A review,” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 20, 430–442 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.031CrossRef

11.

F. Schäfer, S. Egger, D. Steiner, M. Carré, and Rüdiger-A Eichel, “Control of oxygen-to-carbon ratio and fuel utilization with regard to solid oxide fuel cell systems with anode exhaust gas recirculation: A review,” J. Power Sources 524, 231077 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231077CrossRef

12.

L. Fan, C. Li, L. van Biert, S.-H. Zhou, A. N. Tabish, A. Mokhov, P. V. Aravind, and W. Cai, “Advances on methane reforming in solid oxide fuel cells,” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 166, 112646 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112646CrossRef

13.

H. Gorgun, M. Arcak, S. Varigonda, and S. Bortoff, “Observer designs for fuel processing reactors in fuel cell power systems,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 30, 447–457 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2004.10.024CrossRef

14.

Z. Lyu and M. Han, “Optimization of anode off-gas recycle ratio for a natural gas-fueled 1 kW SOFC CHP System,” ECS Trans. 91, 1591–1600 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1149/09101.1591ecstCrossRef

15.

E. A. Liese and R. S. Gemmen, “Performance comparison of internal reforming against external reforming in a solid oxide fuel cell, gas turbine hybrid system,” J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 127, 86–90 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1788689CrossRef

16.

L. Cai, T. He, Y. Xiang, and Y. Guan, “Study on the reaction pathways of steam methane reforming for H₂ production,” Energy 207, 118296 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118296CrossRef

17.

P. Hendriksen, “A mathematical model for internal reforming at composite anodes for solid oxide fuel cells,” in Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC-V), Aachen, Germany, June 2–5, 1997 (Electrochemical Society, Pennington, N.J., 1997), pp. 1319–1328.

18.

D. Mogensen, J.-D. Grunwaldt, P. V. Hendriksen, K. Dam-Johansen, and J. U. Nielsen, “Internal steam reforming in solid oxide fuel cells: Status and opportunities of kinetic studies and their impact on modelling,” J. Power Sources 196, 25–38 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.06.091CrossRef

19.

A. V. Samoilov, V. A. Kirillov, and S. I. Bredikhin, “Reformer for solid oxide fuel cell based power plant,” in Fuel Cells and Power Plants Based on Them: Proc. 6th All-Russian Conf., Chernogolovka, Russia, June 23–27, 2019, pp. 58–59. https://doi.org/10.26201/ISSP.2019/FC.1

20.

S. A. Zhivul’ko, V. B. Avakov, and I. K. Landgraf, “Some design and development peculiarities of the monoblock converter for the hydrocarbon fuel with hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone,” in Fuel Cells and Power Plants Based on Them: Proc. 6th All-Russian Conf., Chernogolovka, Russia, June 23–27, 2019, pp. 52–54. https://doi.org/10.26201/ISSP.2019/FC.71

21.

A. K. Avetisov, J. R. Rostrup-Nielsen, V. L. Kuchaev, J.-H. Bak Hansen, A. G. Zyskin, and E. N. Shapatina, “Steady-state kinetics and mechanism of methane reforming with steam and carbon dioxide over Ni catalyst,” J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 315, 155–162 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2009.06.013CrossRef

22.

Fuel Cell Handbook, 7th ed. (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, W.Va., 2004).

23.

J. Sehested, “Four challenges for nickel steam-reforming catalysts,” Catal. Today 111, 103–110 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2005.10.002CrossRef

24.

M. A. Abdelkareem, H. T. Waqas, T. S. Enas, M. Assad, A. Anis, and S. W. Cha, “On the technical challenges affecting the performance of direct internal reforming biogas solid oxide fuel cells,” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 101, 361–375 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.10.025CrossRef

25.

A. A. Markov, O. V. Merkulov, I. A. Leonidov, and M. V. Patrakeev, “Hydrogen and synthesis gas co-production in a membrane reactor,” in Fuel Cells and Power Plants Based on Them: Proc. 6th All-Russian Conf., Chernogolovka, Russia, June 23–27, 2019, pp. 49–51. https://doi.org/10.26201/ISSP.2019/FC.48

26.

T. M. Gür, “Comprehensive review of methane conversion in solid oxide fuel cells: Prospects for efficient electricity generation from natural gas,” Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 54, 1–64 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2015.10.004CrossRef

27.

L. Fan, C. Li, P. Aravind, W. Cai, M. Han, and N. Brandon, “Methane reforming in solid oxide fuel cells: Challenges and strategies,” J. Power Sources 538, 231573 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231573CrossRef

28.

A. Iulianelli, P. Ribeirinha, A. Mendes, and A. Basile, “Methanol steam reforming for hydrogen generation via conventional and membrane reactors: A review,” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 29, 355–368 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.032CrossRef

29.

A. A. Lytkina, N. V. Orekhova, and A. B. Yaroslavtsev, “Methanol steam reforming in membrane reactors,” Membr. Membr. Tekhnol. 8, 301–314 (2018).

30.

E. Yu. Mironova, M. M. Ermilova, N. V. Orekhova, and A. B. Yaroslavtsev, “A method for obtaining superpure hydrogen by ethanol steam reforming,” RF Patent No. 2717819 C1 (2020).

31.

A. V. Samoilov, V. A. Kirillov, and S. I. Bredikhin, “Catalyst used in reformer for solid oxide fuel cell based power plant,” in Fuel Cells and Power Plants Based on Them: Proc. 6th All-Russian Conf., Chernogolovka, Russia, June 23–27, 2019, pp. 265–267. https://doi.org/10.26201/ISSP.2019/FC.2

32.

P. V. Snytnikov, V. N. Rogozhnikov, D. I. Potemkin, V. A. Shilov, N. V. Ruban, N. A. Kuzin, and V. A. Sobyanin, “Structured catalysts and reformers for the conversion of liquid hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen-containing gas,” in Fuel Cells and Power Plants Based on Them: Proc. 6th All-Russian Conf., Chernogolovka, Russia, June 23–27, 2019, pp. 89–91. https://doi.org/10.26201/ISSP.2019/FC.14

33.

A. Faes, A. Hessler-Wyser, and A. Zryd, “A review of RedOx cycling of solid oxide fuel cells anode,” Membranes (Basel) 2, 585–664 (2012). https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes2030585CrossRef

34.

S. Badwal, “Stability of solid oxide fuel cell components,” Solid State Ionics 143, 39–46 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-2738(01)00831-1CrossRef

35.

S. Tao and J. T. Irvine, “Discovery and characterization of novel oxide anodes for solid oxide fuel cells,” Chem. Rec. 4, 83–95 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1002/tcr.20003CrossRef

36.

R. J. Gorte and J. M. Vohs, “Catalysis in solid oxide fuel cells,” Annu. Rev. Chem. Biomol. Eng. 2, 9–30 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-061010-114148CrossRef

37.

D. Papurello, D. Canuto, and M. Santarelli, “CFD model for tubular SOFC stack fed directly by biomass,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 47, 6860–6872 (2022).CrossRef

38.

V. Somano, D. Ferrero, M. Santarelli, and D. Papurello, “CFD model for tubular SOFC directly fed by biomass,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 46, 17421–17434 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.02.147CrossRef

39.

H. H. Faheem, S. Z. Abbas, A. N. Tabish, L. Fan, and F. Maqbool, “A review on mathematical modelling of direct internal reforming-solid oxide fuel cells,” J. Power Sources 520, 230857 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230857CrossRef

40.

K. Ahmed and K. Fӧger, “Analysis of equilibrium and kinetic models of internal reforming on solid oxide fuel cell anodes: Effect on voltage, current and temperature distribution,” J. Power Sources 343, 83–93 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.01.039CrossRef

Title: Reforming of Hydrocarbon Fuel in Electrochemical Systems (Review)
Authors: A. A. Filimonova
A. A. Chichirov
N. D. Chichirova
A. V. Pechenkin
Publication date: 01-08-2023
Publisher: Pleiades Publishing
Published in: Thermal Engineering / Issue 8/2023
Print ISSN: 0040-6015
Electronic ISSN: 1555-6301
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601523080025

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 8/2023

A Study of R113 Refrigerant Boiling Processes in a Horizontal Tube Bundle under High Heat Flux Conditions

Monitoring the Percentage of Service Life Usage for Unheated High-Temperature Elements of Boilers

Prospects for the Use of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials in Energy Technologies (Review)

Multi-objective Optimization of Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers According to Different Expressions of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Effect of High-Temperature Superconducting Current Limiters on Short-Circuit Fault Clearing

Spray Impingement Cooling of Metal Surfaces: a Review on Progressing Mechanisms

Premium Partner