Reduction of SOFC anodes to extend stack lifetime
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; and
electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell, wherein the step of electrochemically reducing comprises;
applying an external potential to the fuel cell; and
providing a humidified carrier gas to the anode side of the fuel cell.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, including providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode containing nickel, and electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, including providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode containing nickel, periodically operating the fuel cell to generate electricity, and reducing an anode side of the fuel cell between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; and electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell, wherein the step of electrochemically reducing comprises; applying an external potential to the fuel cell; and providing a humidified carrier gas to the anode side of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; periodically operating the fuel cell to generate electricity; and reducing an anode side of the fuel cell between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell, wherein the step of reducing is conducted a plurality of times at predetermined periodic intervals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel oxide; electrochemically reducing the nickel oxide in the anode electrode to nickel prior to electricity generation operation of the fuel cell; and after the step of electrochemically reducing the nickel oxide, periodically operating the fuel cell to generate electricity; and further reducing the anode electrode between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; and electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell, wherein; the step of electrochemically reducing is conducted on at least one of the anode electrode and an anode contact layer between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell; and the step of electrochemically reducing is conducted a plurality of times at predetermined periodic intervals. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; detecting at least one of when a voltage generated by a fuel cell stack containing the solid oxide fuel cell drops below a first predetermined voltage or when the fuel cell stack degradation rate reaches a second predetermined value; and electrochemically reducing an anode side of the fuel cell, wherein the step of electrochemically reducing is conducted on at least one of the anode electrode and an anode contact layer between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising an anode electrode comprising nickel; periodically operating the fuel cell to generate electricity; reducing an anode side of the fuel cell between electricity generation operation periods of the fuel cell; and detecting at least one of when a voltage generated by a fuel cell stack containing the solid oxide fuel cell drops below a first predetermined voltage or when the fuel cell stack degradation rate reaches a second predetermined value, wherein the step of reducing is conducted after the at least one of when the voltage generated by the fuel cell stack containing the solid oxide fuel cell drops below the first predetermined voltage or when the fuel cell stack degradation rate reaches the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification