scholarly journals The Use of Direct Carbon Fuel Cells in Compact Energy Systems for the Generation of Electricity, Heat and Cold

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Zarzycki ◽  
Andrzej Kacprzak ◽  
Zbigniew Bis
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Maximum Heat ◽  
Absorption Chillers ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell ◽  
Basic Source ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cells

The study presents a concept and calculations concerning the operation of the direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) with molten hydroxide electrolyte (MH-DCFC) as the basic source of electricity integrated with heat and cool air generation systems. The technology of direct carbon fuel cells assumes the direct use of a carbon fuel (such as fossil coal, carbonized biomass, graphite, coke etc.) to generate electricity with high efficiency and low impact on the environment. These cells operate by utilizing carbon fuel in the range of temperatures of 673–973 K and allow for generation of electricity with an efficiency of about 56%. In order to improve the fuel conversion efficiency, the heat generated in the process of cell cooling can be used to prepare hot water, for heating during the heating season, while during the summer period, heat from cooling of the direct carbon fuel cells can be utilized in the process of cool air production (chilled air) using absorption chillers for e.g. air conditioning. This paper presents a case study and simulation calculations of the system composed of MH-DCFC that generates electricity, and runs heat exchangers and an absorption chiller, integrated with the fuel cell to generate heating and cooling for improving the efficiency of the whole system. The maximum heat and cool streams that can be obtained during the operation of the cell were also evaluated. The results obtained in the study can be helpful in the design of autonomous buildings equipped in direct carbon fuel cells as sources of electricity integrated with the systems of heat and cool generation.

scholarly journals Challenges in developing direct carbon fuel cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 2889-2912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cairong Jiang ◽  
Jianjun Ma ◽  
Gael Corre ◽  
Sneh L. Jain ◽  
John T. S. Irvine
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Electrical Efficiency ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cells

A direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) can produce electricity with both superior electrical efficiency and fuel utilisation compared to all other types of fuel cells.

A direct carbon fuel cell with a CuO–ZnO–SDC composite anode

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (55) ◽  
pp. 50201-50208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenbin Hao ◽  
Yongli Mi
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Anode Material ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Maximum Power Density ◽  
Composite Anode ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cells

A direct carbon fuel cell with a CuO–ZnO–SDC composite anode was demonstrated. The maximum power density was 130 mW cm−2 at 700 °C. The results indicate that CuO–ZnO can be used as a nickel-free anode material for direct carbon fuel cells.

scholarly journals A Review of Hydrogen Purification Technologies for Fuel Cell Vehicles

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Zhemin Du ◽  
Congmin Liu ◽  
Junxiang Zhai ◽  
Xiuying Guo ◽  
Yalin Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Impurity Content ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Hydrogen Purification ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicles ◽  
Low Carbon

Nowadays, we face a series of global challenges, including the growing depletion of fossil energy, environmental pollution, and global warming. The replacement of coal, petroleum, and natural gas by secondary energy resources is vital for sustainable development. Hydrogen (H2) energy is considered the ultimate energy in the 21st century because of its diverse sources, cleanliness, low carbon emission, flexibility, and high efficiency. H2 fuel cell vehicles are commonly the end-point application of H2 energy. Owing to their zero carbon emission, they are gradually replacing traditional vehicles powered by fossil fuel. As the H2 fuel cell vehicle industry rapidly develops, H2 fuel supply, especially H2 quality, attracts increasing attention. Compared with H2 for industrial use, the H2 purity requirements for fuel cells are not high. Still, the impurity content is strictly controlled since even a low amount of some impurities may irreversibly damage fuel cells’ performance and running life. This paper reviews different versions of current standards concerning H2 for fuel cell vehicles in China and abroad. Furthermore, we analyze the causes and developing trends for the changes in these standards in detail. On the other hand, according to characteristics of H2 for fuel cell vehicles, standard H2 purification technologies, such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA), membrane separation and metal hydride separation, were analyzed, and the latest research progress was reviewed.

Hybrid direct carbon fuel cell-thermoradiative systems for high-efficiency waste-heat recovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 198 ◽  
pp. 111842
Author(s):  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Jianying Du ◽  
Yee Sin Ang ◽  
Jincan Chen ◽  
Lay Kee Ang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Heat Recovery ◽  
Waste Heat Recovery ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell

scholarly journals Direct Carbon Fuel Cell-Cleaner and Efficient Future Power Generation Technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-30
Author(s):  
Uzair Ibrahim ◽  
Ahsan Ayub
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Gaseous State ◽  
Thermal Plant ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell ◽  
Pure Carbon ◽  
Pure Carbon Dioxide

Increasing greenhouse effect due to the burning of fossil fuels has stirred the attention of researchers towards cleaner and efficient technologies. Direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) is one such emerging technology that could generate electricity from solid carbon like coal and biogas in a more efficient and environmental-friendly way. The mechanism involves electrochemical oxidation of carbon to produce energy and highly pure carbon dioxide. Due to higher purity, the produced carbon dioxide can be captured easily to avoid its release in the environment. The carbon dioxide is produced in a gaseous state while the fuel used is in a solid state. Due to different phases, all of the fuel can be recovered from the cell and can be reused, ensuring complete (100%) fuel utilization with no fuel losses. Moreover, DCFC operates at a temperature lower than conventional fuel cells. The electric efficiency of a DCFC is around 80% which is nearly double the efficiency of coal thermal plant. In addition, DCFC produces pure carbon dioxide as compared to the thermal power plant which reduces the cost of CO2 separation and dumping. In different types of DCFCs, molten carbon fuel cell is considered to be superior due to its low operating temperature and high efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the direct carbon fuel cell technology and recent advances in this field. The paper is focused on the fundamentals of fuel cell, history, operating principle, its types, applications, future challenges, and development.

scholarly journals Analysis of Related Technologies Used in Fuel Cell Vehicles

2021 ◽  
Vol 2125 (1) ◽  
pp. 012011
Author(s):  
Ziyi Du ◽  
Hongxu Zhan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Hydrogen Energy ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicles ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Different Types

Abstract Nowadays, many types of fuel cells have made significant progress. In 2014, they were applied to the production model Toyota’s FCHV-Adv. With their high efficiency and low pollution, fuel cells have gradually started to replace some traditional technologies in many energy applications and production industries and have become a hot topic of interest in recent years. Depending on the type of fuel, there are various types, and different fuel cells work on different principles, leading to differences in their performance. This paper lists the different fuel cells and their application scenarios in the automotive industry. In addition, the use of hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles is also a major concern. This paper briefly discusses the current hydrogen production and four different types of fuel cell vehicles and their energy management strategies. All the technical advantages of fuel cells and hydrogen energy are ultimately reflected in fuel cell vehicles, and this paper describes the current challenges and future possibilities.

Modeling of a Methane Fuelled Direct Carbon Fuel Cell System

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hemmes ◽  
M. Houwing ◽  
N. Woudstra
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Total System ◽  
Carbon Particles ◽  
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Reactive Carbon ◽  
Outlet Stream

Direct Carbon Fuel Cells (DCFCs) have great thermodynamic advantages over other high temperature fuel cells such as MCFC and SOFC. They can have 100% fuel utilization, no Nernst loss (at the anode) and the CO2 produced at the anode is not mixed with other gases and is ready for reuse or sequestration. So far only studies have been reported on cell development. In this paper we study in particular the integration of the production of clean and reactive carbon particles from methane as a fuel for the direct carbon fuel cell. In the thermal decomposition process heat is upgraded to chemical energy in the carbon and hydrogen produced. The hydrogen is seen as a product as well as the power and heat. Under the assumptions given the net system electric efficiency is 22.9 % (based on methane LHV) and 20.7 % (HHV). The hydrogen production efficiency is 65.5 % (based on methane LHV) and 59.1 % (HHV), which leads to a total system efficiency of 88.4 % (LHV) and 79.8 % (HHV). Although a pure CO2 stream is produced at the anode outlet, which is seen as a large advantage of DCFC systems, this advantage is unfortunately reduced due to the need for CO2 in the cathode air stream. Due to the applied assumed constraint that the cathode outlet stream should at least contain 4% CO2 for a proper functioning of the cathode, similar to MCFC cathodes a major part of the pure CO2 has to be mixed with incoming air. Further optimization of the DCFC and the system is needed to obtain a larger fraction of the output streams as pure CO2 for sequestration or reuse.

scholarly journals Effect of Cell Size on the Performance and Temperature Distribution of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Hyeong Yu ◽  
Chang-Whan Lee
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Current Density Distribution ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are high-operating-temperature fuel cells with high efficiency and fuel diversity. Electrochemical reactions in MCFCs are exothermic. As the size of the fuel cells increases, the amount of the heat from the fuel cells and the temperature of the fuel cells increase. In this work, we investigated the relationship between the fuel cell stack size and performance by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Three flow types, namely co-flow, cross-flow, and counter-flow, were studied. We found that when the size of the fuel cells increased beyond a certain value, the size of the fuel cell no longer affected the cell performance. The maximum fuel cell temperature converged as the size of the fuel cell increased. The temperature and current density distribution with respect to the size showed a very similar distribution. The converged maximum temperature of the fuel cells depended on the gas flow condition. The maximum temperature of the fuel cell decreased as the amount of gas in the cathode size increased.

Advances in the Research and Development of Fuel Cells in China

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong-Fang Ma ◽  
Hang Guo ◽  
Fang Ye ◽  
Jian Yu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
The Government

As a clean, high efficiency power generation technology, fuel cell is a promising choice of next generation power device. Widely application of fuel cells will make a contribution to save fuels and reduce atmospheric pollution. In recent years, fuel cells science, technology and engineering have attracted great interest in China. There are more and more Chinese scientists and engineers embark upon fuel cell projects. The government also encourages academic institutions and companies to enter into this area. Research and development of fuel cells are growing rapidly in China. There are many chances and challenges in fuel cells’ research and development. The state of the art of research and development of fuel cells in China was overviewed in this paper. The types of fuel cells addressed in this paper included alkaline fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells.

DOE FE Distributed Generation Program

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Williams ◽  
Bruce R. Utz ◽  
Kevin M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Distributed Generation ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The U.S

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in partnership with private industries, is leading the development and demonstration of high efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and fuel cell turbine hybrid power generation systems for near term distributed generation (DG) markets with an emphasis on premium power and high reliability. NETL is partnering with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in developing new directions in research under the Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) initiative for the development and commercialization of modular, low cost, and fuel flexible SOFC systems. The SECA initiative, through advanced materials, processing and system integration research and development, will bring the fuel cell cost to $400 per kilowatt (kW) for stationary and auxiliary power unit (APU) markets. The President of the U.S. has launched us into a new hydrogen economy. The logic of a hydrogen economy is compelling. The movement to a hydrogen economy will accomplish several strategic goals. The U.S. can use its own domestic resources—solar, wind, hydro, and coal. The U.S. uses 20 percent of the world’s oil but has only 3 percent of resources. Also, the U.S. can reduce green house gas emissions. Clear Skies and Climate Change initiatives aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. SOFCs have no emissions, so they figure significantly in these DOE strategies. In addition, DG—SOFCs, reforming, energy storage—has significant benefit for enhanced security and reliability. The use of fuel cells in cars is expected to bring about the hydrogen economy. However, commercialization of fuel cells is expected to proceed first through portable and stationary applications. This logic says to develop SOFCs for a wide range of stationary and APU applications, initially for conventional fuels, then switch to hydrogen. Like all fuel cells, the SOFC will operate even better on hydrogen than conventional fuels. The SOFC hybrid is a key part of the FutureGen plants. FutureGen is a major new Presidential initiative to produce hydrogen from coal. The highly efficient SOFC hybrid plant will produce electric power and other parts of the plant could produce hydrogen and sequester CO2. The hydrogen produced can be used in fuel cell cars and for SOFC DG applications.

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