scholarly journals Recent Advances in High Temperature Electrolysis at Idaho National Laboratory: Stack Tests

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
James E. O’Brien ◽  
Robert C. O’Brien ◽  
Joseph J. Hartvigsen ◽  
Greg Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Solid Oxide Electrolysis ◽  
Electrolysis Mode

High temperature steam electrolysis is a promising technology for efficiently sustainable large-scale hydrogen production. Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are able to utilize high temperature heat and electric power from advanced high-temperature nuclear reactors or renewable sources to generate carbon-free hydrogen at large scale. However, long term durability of SOECs needs to be improved significantly before commercialization of this technology. A degradation rate of 1%/khr or lower is proposed as a threshold value for commercialization of this technology. Solid oxide electrolysis stack tests have been conducted at Idaho National Laboratory to demonstrate recent improvements in long-term durability of SOECs. Electrolyte-supported and electrode-supported SOEC stacks were provided by Ceramatec Inc., Materials and Systems Research Inc. (MSRI), and Saint Gobain Advanced Materials (St. Gobain), respectively for these tests. Long-term durability tests were generally operated for a duration of 1000 hours or more. Stack tests based on technologies developed at Ceramatec and MSRI have shown significant improvement in durability in the electrolysis mode. Long-term degradation rates of 3.2%/khr and 4.6%/khr were observed for MSRI and Ceramatec stacks, respectively. One recent Ceramatec stack even showed negative degradation (performance improvement) over 1900 hours of operation. A three-cell short stack provided by St. Gobain, however, showed rapid degradation in the electrolysis mode. Optimizations of electrode materials, interconnect coatings, and electrolyte-electrode interface microstructures contribute to better durability of SOEC stacks.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in High Temperature Electrolysis at Idaho National Laboratory: Single Cell Tests

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
James E. O’Brien ◽  
Robert C. O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Stable Performance ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

An experimental investigation on the performance and durability of single solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is under way at the Idaho National Laboratory. In order to understand and mitigate the degradation issues in high temperature electrolysis, single SOECs with different configurations from several manufacturers have been evaluated for initial performance and long-term durability. A new test apparatus has been developed for single cell and small stack tests from different vendors. Single cells from Ceramatec Inc. show improved durability compared to our previous stack tests. Single cells from Materials and Systems Research Inc. (MSRI) demonstrate low degradation both in fuel cell and electrolysis modes. Single cells from Saint Gobain Advanced Materials (St. Gobain) show stable performance in fuel cell mode, but rapid degradation in the electrolysis mode. Electrolyte-electrode delamination is found to have significant impact on degradation in some cases. Enhanced bonding between electrolyte and electrode and modification of the microstructure help to mitigate degradation. Polarization scans and AC impedance measurements are performed during the tests to characterize the cell performance and degradation.

scholarly journals Performance Assessment of Single Electrode-Supported Solid Oxide Cells Operating in the Steam Electrolysis Mode

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Zhang ◽  
J. E. O’Brien ◽  
R. C. O’Brien ◽  
N. Petigny
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Accelerated Degradation ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Cell Test ◽  
Electrolysis Mode

An experimental study has been conducted to assess the performance of electrode-supported solid-oxide cells operating in the steam electrolysis mode for hydrogen production. Results presented in this paper were obtained from single cells, with an active area of 16 cm2 per cell. The electrolysis cells are electrode-supported, with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes (∼10 μm thick), nickel-YSZ steam/hydrogen electrodes (∼1400 μm thick), and modified LSM or LSCF air-side electrodes (∼90 μm thick). The purpose of the present study is to document and compare the performance and degradation rates of these cells in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode under various operating conditions. Initial performance was documented through a series of voltage-current (VI) sweeps and AC impedance spectroscopy measurements. Degradation was determined through long-term testing, first in the fuel cell mode, then in the electrolysis mode. Results generally indicate accelerated degradation rates in the electrolysis mode compared to the fuel cell mode, possibly due to electrode delamination. The paper also includes details of an improved single-cell test apparatus developed specifically for these experiments.

scholarly journals Test Results From the Idaho National Laboratory 15kW High Temperature Electrolysis Test Facility

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl M. Stoots ◽  
Keith G. Condie ◽  
James E. O’Brien ◽  
J. Stephen Herring ◽  
Joseph J. Hartvigsen
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
Production Of Hydrogen ◽  
Heat Recuperation ◽  
High Temperature Electrolysis

A 15 kW high temperature electrolysis test facility has been developed at the Idaho National Laboratory under the United States Department of Energy Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative. This facility is intended to study the technology readiness of using high temperature solid oxide cells for large scale nuclear powered hydrogen production. It is designed to address larger-scale issues such as thermal management (feedstock heating, high temperature gas handling, heat recuperation), multiple-stack hot zone design, multiple-stack electrical configurations, etc. Heat recuperation and hydrogen recycle are incorporated into the design. The facility was operated for 1080 hours and successfully demonstrated the largest scale high temperature solid-oxide-based production of hydrogen to date.

scholarly journals Test Results From the Idaho National Laboratory of the NASA Bi-Supported Cell Design

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Stoots ◽  
J. O’Brien ◽  
T. Cable
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
High Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Operating Voltage ◽  
Cell Design ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
The University ◽  
Solid Oxide Cell

The Idaho National Laboratory has been researching the application of solid-oxide fuel cell technology for large-scale hydrogen production. As a result, the Idaho National Laboratory has been testing various cell designs to characterize electrolytic performance. NASA, in conjunction with the University of Toledo, has developed a new cell concept with the goals of reduced weight and high power density. This paper presents results of the INL’s testing of this new solid oxide cell design as an electrolyzer. Gas composition, operating voltage, and other parameters were varied during testing. Results to date show the NASA cell to be a promising design for both high power-to-weight fuel cell and electrolyzer applications.

scholarly journals Idaho National Laboratory Experimental Research in High Temperature Electrolysis for Hydrogen and Syngas Production

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl M. Stoots ◽  
James E. O’Brien ◽  
J. Stephen Herring ◽  
Keith G. Condie ◽  
Joseph J. Hartvigsen
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Salt Lake City ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Operating Voltage ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
Syngas Production ◽  
Stack Testing

The Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA), in collaboration with Ceramatec, Inc. (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), is actively researching the application of solid oxide fuel cell technology as electrolyzers for large scale hydrogen and syngas production. This technology relies upon electricity and high temperature heat to chemically reduce a steam or steam / CO2 feedstock. Single button cell tests, multi-cell stack, as well as multi-stack testing has been conducted. Stack testing used 10 × 10 cm cells (8 × 8 cm active area) supplied by Ceramatec and ranged from 10 cell short stacks to 240 cell modules. Tests were conducted either in a bench-scale test apparatus or in a newly developed 5 kW Integrated Laboratory Scale (ILS) test facility. Gas composition, operating voltage, and operating temperature were varied during testing. The tests were heavily instrumented, and outlet gas compositions were monitored with a gas chromatograph. The ILS facility is currently being expanded to ∼15 kW testing capacity (H2 production rate based upon lower heating value).

scholarly journals Carbon Neutral Production of Syngas via High Temperature Electrolytic Reduction of Steam and CO2

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Stoots ◽  
J. O’Brien ◽  
J. Hartvigsen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Computer Model ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Electrolytic Reduction ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Gas Chromatograph ◽  
Open Cell ◽  
Idaho National Laboratory ◽  
Operating Temperatures

This paper presents the most recent results of experiments conducted at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) studying coelectrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide in solid-oxide electrolysis stacks. Two 10-cell planar stacks were tested under various gas compositions, operating voltages, and operating temperatures. The tests were heavily instrumented, and outlet gas compositions were monitored with a gas chromatograph. Measured outlet compositions, open cell potentials, and coelectrolysis thermal neutral voltages compared reasonably well with a coelectrolysis computer model developed at the INL. Stack ASRs did not change significantly when switching from electrolysis to coelectrolysis operation.

Analysis of Long-Term and Thermal Cycling Tests for a Commercial Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin Lee ◽  
Jing-Kai Lin ◽  
Chun-Huang Tsai ◽  
Szu-Han Wu ◽  
Yung-Neng Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Thermal Cycling ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽  
Coefficient Of Thermal Expansion ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Two Stages

The effects of isothermally long-term and thermal cycling tests on the performance of an ASC type commercial solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been investigated. For the long-term test, the cells were tested over 5000 h in two stages, the first 3000 h and the followed 2000 h, under the different flow rates of hydrogen and air. Regarding the thermal cycling test, 60 cycles in total were also divided into two sections, the temperature ranges of 700 °C to 250 °C and 700 °C to 50 °C were applied for the every single cycle of first 30 cycles and the later 30 cycles, respectively. The results of long-term test show that the average degradation rates for the cell in the first 3000 h and the followed 2000 h under different flow rates of fuel and air are 1.16 and 2.64%/kh, respectively. However, there is only a degradation of 6.6% in voltage for the cell after 60 thermal cycling tests. In addition, it is found that many pores formed in the anode of the cell which caused by the agglomeration of Ni after long-term test. In contrast, the vertical cracks penetrating through the cathode of the cell and the in-plane cracks between the cathode and barrier layer of the cell formed due to the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch after 60 thermal cycling tests.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document