The effect of H 2 S on internal dry reforming in biogas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells

• Published in: Energy science & engineering Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 374 - 383
• Main Authors: Wasajja, Henry, Saadabadi, S. Ali, Illathukandy, Biju, Lindeboom, Ralph E. F., van Lier, Jules. B., Vellayani Aravind, Purushothaman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-02-2022
• ISSN: 2050-0505; 2050-0505
• DOI: 10.1002/ese3.1021

Internal dry reforming of methane is envisaged as a possibility to reduce on capital and operation costs of biogas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) system by using the CO
2
present in the biogas. Due to envisaged internal dry reforming, the requirement for biogas upgrading becomes obsolete, thereby simplifying the system complexity and increasing its technology readiness level. However, impurities prevailing in biogas such as H
2
S have been reported in literature as one of the parameters which affect the internal reforming process in SOFCs. This research has been carried out to investigate the effects of H
2
S on internal dry reforming of methane on nickel‐scandia‐stabilised zirconia (Ni‐ScSZ) electrolyte supported SOFCs. Results showed that at 800°C and a CH
4
:CO
2
ratio of 2:3, H
2
S at concentrations as low as 0.125 ppm affects both the catalytic and electric performance of a SOFC. At 0.125 ppm H
2
S concentration, the CH
4
reforming process is affected and it is reduced from over 95% to below 10% in 10 h. Therefore, future biogas SOFC cost reduction seems to become a trade‐off between biogas upgrading for CO
2
 removal and biogas cleaning of impurities to facilitate efficient internal dry reforming.