In-situ analysis of anode atmosphere in a flat-tube solid oxide fuel cell operated with dry reforming of methane

In-situ characterization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) under operating conditions is of great significance to mechanism studies on performance or long-term stability. In this study, real-time visualization of the twodimensional gas distribution inside a large flat-tube SOFC is realized by built-in gas sampling tubes combined with external gas chromatography, validated by simulating calculation. The gas composition inside anode of the cell fueled with CH4/CO2 is in-situ monitored during a 1000-h discharge test. Decrease in catalytic activity for methane dry reforming during the long-term test differs at different region of the cell, and is related with local carbon deposition and sintering of Ni particles. Based on these experimental results, the mechanism of cell performance degradation of the large flat-tube SOFCs under methane dry reforming conditions is discussed.

Automated summary

In this study, real-time visualization of the gas distribution inside a large flat-tube SOFC was achieved by combining built-in gas sampling tubes with external gas chromatography. The decrease in catalytic activity for methane dry reforming during long-term testing was found to differ in different regions of the cell and was related to local carbon deposition and sintering of Ni particles. The mechanism of cell performance degradation under methane dry reforming conditions was discussed based on these experimental results.