화학공학소재연구정보센터
Energy & Fuels, Vol.23, No.1, 920-925, 2009
Equilibrium Calculations of the Composition of Trace Compounds from Biomass Gasification in the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Operating Temperature Interval
The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), due to its high operating temperature and high fuel flexibility, may be fueled by biomass gasification producer gases. Based on the main gas components of typical producer gases (CO, CO2, H-2, H2O, N-2, and light hydrocarbons), the expected SOFC performance will be in the range of cells that use, for example, reformed natural gas as fuel. However, other minor components such as compounds of S, Cl, Na, and K may form species that degrade the SOFC fuel electrode and thus have a negative influence on SOFC performance. Knowledge of the composition of the minor components and the expected level of these compounds is therefore of great importance to be able to perform a detailed experimental study and thus evaluate the expected SOFC performance. The present work comprises results from equilibrium calculations of the composition of biomass gasification gases from two types of biomass gasifiers, one that uses air as gasifying agent and one that uses steam, in the SOFC operating temperature interval (750-1000 degrees C). The major trace components present in biomass gasification producer gases have been identified for several levels of sulfur, potassium, chlorine, and sodium in the SOFC operating temperature interval. Sulfur is present mainly as H2S(g), whereas potassium is mainly present as KOH(g) and to some extent K(g), depending mainly on temperature. High chlorine content in the fuel favors KCl(g) production. In the temperature interval between 750 and 900 degrees C there are, in the cases investigated here, small amounts of carbonate-rich liquid phase and solid carbonates in equilibrium with the gasifier gas.