Environmentally tolerant anode catalyst for a solid oxide fuel cell

• US 20030165732A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: McElroy, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,255,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/00 Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/028 Sealing means characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04111 using a compressor turbine assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04141 by water containing exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 429/901 Fuel cell including means for utilization of heat for unrelated application, e.g. heating a building

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell includes a cathode, a solid ceramic electrolyte, and an anode comprising a cermet containing an environment tolerant catalyst, such as a fuel starvation and/or a sulfur tolerant catalyst.

Claims

1. A solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:

a cathode;

a solid ceramic electrolyte; and

an anode comprising a cermet containing an environment tolerant catalyst.

2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the anode cermet comprises a ceramic and a catalyst.

3. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the catalyst comprises a sulfur tolerant catalyst.

4. The fuel cell of claim 3, wherein the sulfur tolerant catalyst comprises Ni or Cu and a sulfur tolerant compound.

5. The fuel cell of claim 4, wherein the sulfur tolerant compound is selected from the group consisting of MoWO_x, RuO₂, WO_x, MoS₂, WS₂, and PtS_x.

6. The fuel cell of claim 4, wherein the sulfur tolerant compound is selected from the group consisting of Cr₂O₃, FeO, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, Al₂O₃, LiAlO₂, LiCrO₂, MO₂, MO₃ and WO₃.

7. The fuel cell of claim 4, wherein the sulfur tolerant catalyst comprises 10 to 90 weight % Ni or Cu and 10 to 90 weight % sulfur tolerant compound.

8. The fuel cell of claim 3, further comprising a hydrogen fuel source containing more than 10 ppb of at least one sulfur compound.

9. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the catalyst comprises a fuel starvation tolerant catalyst.

10. The fuel cell of claim 9, wherein the fuel starvation tolerant catalyst comprises Ni or Cu and a fuel starvation tolerant material.

11. The fuel cell of claim 10, wherein the fuel starvation tolerant material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ru, Os, Ir, Rh and W.

12. The fuel cell of claim 11, wherein the fuel starvation tolerant catalyst comprises 10 to 90 weight % Ni or Cu and 10 to 90 weight % fuel starvation tolerant material.

13. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the catalyst comprises a sulfur tolerant and a fuel starvation tolerant catalyst.

14. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the catalyst comprises Ni or Cu, a sulfur tolerant material and a fuel starvation tolerant material.

15. The fuel cell of claim 14, wherein the catalyst comprises 10 to 90 weight % Ni or Cu, 5 to 45 weight % sulfur tolerant material and 5 to 45 weight % fuel starvation tolerant material.

16. The fuel cell of claim 2, wherein the electrolyte comprises YSZ.

17. The fuel cell of claim 2m wherein the anode cermet ceramic comprises YSZ.

18. A system, comprising at least two of elements (a) to (g):

(a) a temperature sensitive adsorption oxygen enrichment system;

(b) a load matched power generation system including a solid oxide fuel cell and a heat pump and an optional turbine;

(c) a textured fuel cell ceramic electrolyte;

(d) an environment tolerant fuel cell anode catalyst;

(e) a fuel water vapor replenishment system containing an anode side enthalpy wheel;

(f) a felt seal in a fuel cell; and

(g) a felt collector in a fuel cell.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least three, four, five, six or all seven of the elements (a) to (g).

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the system comprises element (d).