Integration of direct carbon and hydrogen fuel cells for highly efficient power generation from hydrocarbon fuels

    Authors

    N. Muradov; P. Choi; F. Smith;G. Bokerman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Power Sources

    Keywords

    Hydrogen; Carbon; Methane; Thermocatalytic decomposition; PEMFC; Direct; carbon fuel cell; METHANE; DECOMPOSITION; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels

    Abstract

    In view of impending depletion of hydrocarbon fuel resources and their negative environmental impact, it is imperative to significantly increase the energy conversion efficiency of hydrocarbon-based power generation systems. The combination of a hydrocarbon decomposition reactor with a direct carbon and hydrogen fuel cells (FC) as a means for a significant increase in chemical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency is discussed in this paper. The data on development and operation of a thermocatalytic hydrocarbon decomposition reactor and its coupling with a proton exchange membrane FC are presented. The analysis of the integrated power generating system including a hydrocarbon decomposition reactor, direct carbon and hydrogen FC using natural gas and propane as fuels is conducted. It was estimated that overall chemical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of the integrated system varied in the range of 49.4-82.5%, depending on the type of fuel and FC used, and CO(2) emission per kW(el)h produced is less than half of that from conventional power generation sources. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Power Sources

    Volume

    195

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1112

    Last Page

    1121

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000271779100028

    ISSN

    0378-7753

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