APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING KINETIC RATES FOR INTERNAL REFORMING OF FUEL IN SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS

摘要

The present invention provides a solid oxide fuelcell in which kinetic rates for internal reforming arecontrolled. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises a cathode,an electrolyte layer adjacent to the cathode, and an anodeadjacent to the electrolyte layer. The anode used in thecell of the invention includes a support structure whichdefines at least a portion of an anode flow channel and acatalyst that promotes reforming. The anode flow channelhas an anode flow channel entrance for the introduction offuel to the solid oxide fuel cell and an anode flow channelexit for removing unreacted fuel and/or by-products. Thecatalyst is dispersed within or upon the support structuresuch that the rate of reforming increases at increasingdistances from the anode flow channel entrance. The presentinvention also provides a method of controlling internalreforming kinetic rates in a solid oxide fuel cell.