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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/E00136X/1
Title Hollow Fibre Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Status Completed
Energy Categories Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr K Li
No email address given
Chemical Engineering
Imperial College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 June 2007
End Date 30 September 2010
Duration 40 months
Total Grant Value £217,377
Industrial Sectors Chemicals; Energy
Region London
Programme Information & Communication Technology, Materials, Mechanical and Medical Eng, Physical Sciences
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr K Li , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Professor GH Kelsall , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (0.001%)
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Objectives
Abstract Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), known for their high (up to 80%) chemical to electrical/thermal conversion efficiencies, their versatility in fuel intake (hydrogen, natural gas, methanol and other petroleum products etc.) and their relatively environmentally benign operation, have a high market potential, but are not yet mass produced, because of outstanding technological and economic issues.This proposed project aims to address these problems by establishing the feasibility of, and developing, a novel design of SOFC, fabricated using hollow fibres, thereby increasing the specific surface area of electrodes, increasing the power output per unit volume/mass, facilitating sealing at high temperatures, and decreasing costs. The electrolyte in the hollow fibre configuration will be fabricated firstly by a combined phase inversion/sintering technique and consists of a thin dense layer, with integrated porous sub-layers on both sides. The porous sub-layers will then be deposited withanode and cathode materials, to produce a single hollow fibre SOFC, bundles of which will be assembled subsequently into a SOFC stack. The performance of both single cells and SOFC stacks will be investigated as a function of the fabrication and operational parameters. Initially, yttrium-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) will be used as the electrolyte, as the feasibility of producing this in fibre form has already been established, though not yet at the targeted electrolyte thickness of < 10 micron and with the required structure; to decrease operating temperatures from ca. 900 to 500-750 C, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO) electrolyte will be used subsequently. As this proposal is concerned with establishing feasibility of the reactor design concept, hydrogen will be used as a model fuel at Ni anodes, coupled to oxygen reduction at La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) cathodes; reactor performance with other fuels would be part of a subsequent project proposal
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Added to Database 01/01/07