Metal Supported SOFCs for Mobile Applications using Hydrocarbon Fuels

Metal supported solid oxide fuel cell (MSC) technology has a significant potential for mobile applications, due to high electrical efficiencies, fuel flexibility, cheap materials, and mechanical robustness. The MSC concept in the current study relies on scalable, ceramic processing methodology. Two MSC generations with different anodes, one with a FeCr-ScYSZ-based anode backbone and one with a FeCr-titanate based anode backbone, both infiltrated with GDC and Ni electro catalysts, were tested using methane containing fuel. It was found that the internal reforming activity of the anodes is reduced as compared to state-of-the-art Ni-cermet anodes, due to the lower Ni content in the anodes of the MSCs. Still, power densities of ca. 0.22 W cm-2 were obtained at 650 C in a methane/steam fuel and long-term tests at medium to high fuel utilization were successfully demonstrated on the titanate based MSC.