Direct Electrochemical Conversion of the Chemical Energy of Raw Waste Wood to Electrical Energy in Tubular Direct Carbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

摘要

Raw wood chips from beech and acacia were chosen as a source of solid carbon fuels for utilization intubular solid oxide fuel cells. These materials are typical wood waste products from carpentry inPoland. The physicochemical properties of carbon particles produced in situ during the operation oftubular direct carbon oxide fuel cells were determined by different analytical methods. It was foundthat solid carbon fuel had possessed high carbon content. Based upon structural investigations (X-raydiffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy), it was found that disordered carbon or highly defectedparticles had been formed from raw waste wood during the operation of the fuel cell. No products ofpossible chemical reactions between carbon solid carbon fuel, or evaluated gases and nickel-ceriaanodes, were observed during the start-up and operation of the DC-SOFC. It was found through2 electrochemical investigations that the power output of the DC-SOFC in question was ca. 100 mW/cmat 800C, which was similar to the performance of a DC-SOFC supplied with activated charcoals. Aproposal of the construction of a small stack of tubular solid oxide fuel cells fed with biochar-basedfuel was mentioned.