2013 Volume 81 Issue 2 Pages 86-91
The effect of operating temperature on durability was investigated for direct butane utilization using microtubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). At 710°C, the performance of the Ni-Gd doped ceria (Ni-GDC) anode deteriorated rapidly for less than 2 h in butane fuel with relatively low steam/carbon (S/C) ratio at 0.044 because of a large amount of carbon deposition by butane cracking. The carbon nanofiber grew up from catalysis in the Ni-GDC anode after direct butane utilization at 660°C for 15 h. The carbon deposition rate in wet butane was slower than that in dry butane below 660°C on the Ni-GDC composite, because the oxidation of deposited carbon was also promoted by catalysis in the presence of water. The electric power could be generated continuously for more than 24 h in butane at S/C = 0.044 and relatively low operating temperature at 610°C using the Ni-GDC anode. Decrease in the operating temperature realized high durability against carbon deposition for direct butane utilization of SOFCs using the Ni-GDC anode.
