Advancing Biogas Utilization through Fuel Flexible SOFC
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Biogas provides an excellent means to convert waste to energy. It is an important technology widely applied in rural India with many significant installations also in the UK and Europe. Currently electricity is generally produced from biogas through thermal conversion; however, the electrical efficiency of this process is low. Converting biogas to electricity via fuel cell technology offers significant increases in efficieny, perhaps a factor of 2, and hence is a highly desirable technology. Some biogas installations do exist utiliing molten carbonate fuel cell technology; however, it is widely considered that Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology is the most promising future technology due to its much higher power density and its applicability to a wide range of scales. Here, we seek to improve the performance and durability of SOFC fuel electrodes for operation in biogas.
Biogas is largely a mixture of CO2 and methane with quite large impurity contents of hydrogen sulphide. In this study, we investigate the performance and durability of some different SOFC concepts in fuel gas compositions directly relevant to biogas operation. The first strategy investigated will be to develop new perovskite and related materials for application as SOFC anodes that are resistant to coking and sulphur degradation. The second strategy to be investigated, relates to the utilisation of proton conducting perovskite to protect Ni and other electrocatalysts from coking and degradation. These and more conventional electrodes will be studied through sophisticating imaging techniques and electrochemcal performance testing. Promising concepts will be scaled up into significant cells, i.e. >10cm2 and rigourous testing performed. Test cells will be made and evaluated under different gas mixes probing both operation on startup in biogas and on prolonged operation utilising anode exhaust recirculate (containing steam and additional CO2) for internal reformation. Durability will be assessed up to 1000 hrs in appropriate biogas reformates and the degree of Sulphur scrubbing required, if any, assessed. Overall we seek solutions that could be applied to multi-kW scales of relevance decentralised and isolated operation.
The UK will lead imaging and modelling, new anodes and performance testing, whereas India will lead proton conducting cermets and cell fabrication and scale up; however all activites involve significant cross-national activity.
Two project workshops will be held in the UK and two in India and these will be linked to training events and outreach meetings open to the wider community. Each researcher will spend at least one month working in partner country laboratory on joint activity.
Biogas is largely a mixture of CO2 and methane with quite large impurity contents of hydrogen sulphide. In this study, we investigate the performance and durability of some different SOFC concepts in fuel gas compositions directly relevant to biogas operation. The first strategy investigated will be to develop new perovskite and related materials for application as SOFC anodes that are resistant to coking and sulphur degradation. The second strategy to be investigated, relates to the utilisation of proton conducting perovskite to protect Ni and other electrocatalysts from coking and degradation. These and more conventional electrodes will be studied through sophisticating imaging techniques and electrochemcal performance testing. Promising concepts will be scaled up into significant cells, i.e. >10cm2 and rigourous testing performed. Test cells will be made and evaluated under different gas mixes probing both operation on startup in biogas and on prolonged operation utilising anode exhaust recirculate (containing steam and additional CO2) for internal reformation. Durability will be assessed up to 1000 hrs in appropriate biogas reformates and the degree of Sulphur scrubbing required, if any, assessed. Overall we seek solutions that could be applied to multi-kW scales of relevance decentralised and isolated operation.
The UK will lead imaging and modelling, new anodes and performance testing, whereas India will lead proton conducting cermets and cell fabrication and scale up; however all activites involve significant cross-national activity.
Two project workshops will be held in the UK and two in India and these will be linked to training events and outreach meetings open to the wider community. Each researcher will spend at least one month working in partner country laboratory on joint activity.
Planned Impact
The world faces an immense challenge to address the energy demands of emerging economies whilst not further increasing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. A key approach is to change from regarding waste as a problem that needs to be solved to an opportunity to harness essentially free energy. Conversion of suitable waste streams to biogas offers a very promising route to heat or electricity. Unfortunately much of the available energy is lost when electricity is produced due to inefficient conversion. Combining biogas production with fuel cell conversion can greatly increase the amount of electricity produced from a given volume of waste and hence is a very attractive future technology.
Biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of manure and other organic wastes in small-scale digestion facilities and is used in over two million households in India, providing an affordable and effective energy source to communities that have great need. In the UK, agriculture generates of the order of 3 million tonnes per annum of wet animal slurries and manures and it is estimated that even with 50% utilisation 1.1TWhr could be generated from these sources alone.
Some biogas fuel systems do exist utilising MCFC technology; however, SOFC technology offers improved power densities and better scalability. Biogas/SOFC is widely recognised as an important direction for future R&D. The work described in this project will improve performance and durability and most importantly will allow simpler systems to be developed opening up important new markets especially for the grid isolated rural communities. Delivery of new technologies which provide new capabilities, not achievable with existing technologies, is key to rapidly ramping up their uptake and will firmly establish the new fuel cell industry.
The likely impact of the project is significantly enhanced by the complimentary strengths of the UK and India partners. This project brings together a very significant capability involving leading edge capability in new materials, imaging, processing and testing.
Biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of manure and other organic wastes in small-scale digestion facilities and is used in over two million households in India, providing an affordable and effective energy source to communities that have great need. In the UK, agriculture generates of the order of 3 million tonnes per annum of wet animal slurries and manures and it is estimated that even with 50% utilisation 1.1TWhr could be generated from these sources alone.
Some biogas fuel systems do exist utilising MCFC technology; however, SOFC technology offers improved power densities and better scalability. Biogas/SOFC is widely recognised as an important direction for future R&D. The work described in this project will improve performance and durability and most importantly will allow simpler systems to be developed opening up important new markets especially for the grid isolated rural communities. Delivery of new technologies which provide new capabilities, not achievable with existing technologies, is key to rapidly ramping up their uptake and will firmly establish the new fuel cell industry.
The likely impact of the project is significantly enhanced by the complimentary strengths of the UK and India partners. This project brings together a very significant capability involving leading edge capability in new materials, imaging, processing and testing.
Organisations
Publications
Kishimoto M
(2016)
Numerical modeling of nickel-infiltrated gadolinium-doped ceria electrodes reconstructed with focused ion beam tomography
in Electrochimica Acta
Kishimoto M
(2014)
Enhanced triple-phase boundary density in infiltrated electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells demonstrated by high-resolution tomography
in Journal of Power Sources
Lan R
(2014)
Novel Proton Conductors in the Layered Oxide Material Li x lAl 0.5 Co 0.5 O 2
in Advanced Energy Materials
Lan R
(2014)
New Layered Proton-Conducting Oxides Li x Al 0.6 Co 0.4 O 2 and Li x Al 0.7 Co 0.3 O 2
in ChemElectroChem
Lan R
(2016)
A perovskite oxide with high conductivities in both air and reducing atmosphere for use as electrode for solid oxide fuel cells.
in Scientific reports
Lan R
(2015)
High ionic conductivity in a LiFeO2-LiAlO2 composite under H2/air fuel cell conditions.
in Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Lan R
(2016)
A simple high-performance matrix-free biomass molten carbonate fuel cell without CO 2 recirculation
in Science Advances
Ma J
(2015)
Highly efficient, coking-resistant SOFCs for energy conversion using biogas fuels
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Petit C
(2014)
Effects of cobalt addition on structural, thermal and electrical properties of praseodymium-yttrium co-doped barium cerates
in Journal of Electroceramics
Petit C
(2013)
Structure and conductivity of praseodymium and yttrium co-doped barium cerates
in Solid State Sciences
Description | We have established a collaborative programme of research between UK and India organisations addressing the use of biogas in high temeperature fuel cells. A new standard composition has been defined allowing fundamental studies to address realistic fuel compositions. New electrode structures have been developed showing good performance in biogas compositions, which whilst being poisoned by any sulphur impurities that might come into the system, are not irreversibly poisoned. |
Exploitation Route | Electrode compositions are of interest to our Industry partners and are being evaluated at present. |
Sectors | Energy Environment |
URL | http://uk-india-biogasproject.weebly.com/ |
Title | Data underpinning:Highly efficient, coking-resistant SOFCs for energy conversion using biogas fuels |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Description | EMRS, Virtual Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The VIRTUAL 2021 Spring Meeting will consist of parallel symposia with invited speakers, oral and poster presentations, assorted by plenary sessions and a number of workshops and training courses. As a new item for posters, short oral presentation will give each attendee the opportunity to highlight the major results. The high quality scientific program will address different topics organized into 19 symposia arranged in 4 clusters covering the fields of energy materials, nanomaterials and advanced characterization, biomaterials and soft materials, as well as materials for electronics, magnetics and photonics. In parallel with the technical sessions, international exhibitors will have the opportunity to promote their equipment, systems, products, software, publications and services during the meeting. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2021-spring-meeting-0 |
Description | ICTN-KLC, India |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International Conference on Thin Films & Nanotechnology: Knowledge, Leadership, & Commercialization The ICTN-KLC: 2021, the first one of its kind, aims to bring together students, academicians, scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs working on development and applications of thin films and nanomaterials from lab to commercial (industrial) scale. The inaugural 3-days conference will be organized virtually from the foundation day of the Thin Film Lab (TFL). In addition to scientific talks, there will be sessions dedicated to research ethics, leadership, and entrepreneurship targeted mainly for early career researchers. The conference will consist of plenary/invited talks and contributed papers on various focus areas in Thin Films & Nanotechnology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://www.ictn-klc.org/ |
Description | MEMP 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Pune is organizing an International Conference on Multifunctional Electronic Materials & Processing (MEMP 2021) at Pune, India during 8-10 March 2021. MEMP-2021 provide an opportunity to scientists, researchers, academicians and young students to interact with eminent scientists/technologists working in the field of multifunctional electronic materials for various applications & their processing for making devices. Materials required for energy storage, energy generation, Nanostructured materials, Quantum dots, Sensors, Neutrino Energy Conversion /storage. Flexible devices, Photonic devices and processing techniques like Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) will be discussed here. MEMP 2021 will serve as a common platform for discussing the new ideas developments/ breakthroughs and future prospects pertaining to multifunctional electronic materials with some of the leading scientists/ technologists as well as to be acquainted with their experience and knowledge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://journalsofindia.com/multifunctional-electronic-materials-processing-memp-2021/ |
Description | STACEES Network Launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | The launch of The St Andrews Network for Climate, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (STACEES) is an interdisciplinary research-focused initiative launched in April 2021 at The University of St Andrews. STACEES' objective is to drive cohesion and capacity in environmental sustainability research at St Andrews, boosting its impact and visibility. The network's vision is to build ambitious, lasting research capabilities that position the University at the centre of international conversations on climate change, energy research and environmental sustainability. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://events.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/sta-cees-network-launch-with-guest-speaker-prof-john-irvine/ |
Description | UKRI at COP26 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Our role in supporting a Year of Climate Action. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is underway. We are supporting activities and events that inspire and engage people and promote positive climate action. Whether you are at COP26 or not, register to access our events, exhibitor booths and engage with researchers and innovators. On these pages you will find out more about: the role research and innovation play in tackling climate change events that UK Research and Innovation is hosting and promoting for COP26, and how to sign up and attend how to join the climate conversation and share your work and ideas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/our-work/responding-to-climate-change/ukri-towards-cop26/ |
Description | eCOCO2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | eCOCO2: An interactive webinar addressing challenges and opportunities for introduction of fuels and chemical carriers produced from CO2 . From CO2 into fuels: A scientific, industrial, social and political perspective |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://ecocoo.eu/assets/files/eCOCO2_Workshop_full-programme.pdf |