Advanced Low Temperature Liquid Metal Anode Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer significant benefits to the Army/DoD based on their high efficiencies, fuel versatility, quiet operation, and negligible emissions. Liquid tin anode solid oxide fuel cells (LTA-SOFCs) can operate directly on military logistics fuels (JP-8, JP-5, and diesel), even with high levels of impurities, thereby avoiding the requirement for an additional fuel reformer. Current LTA-SOFCs have low power densities (~120 mW/cm2) and require high operating temperatures (~1000 degrees Celsius), which limits their use in portable power systems. Lynntech and the University of Florida propose to develop high power density, low operating temperature LTA-SOFCs based on advanced electrolyte and electrode components. During Phase I, advanced cells will be fabricated and optimized to achieve high power densities (target at least 500 mW/cm2) at low operating temperatures (target at or below 600 degrees Celsius), and modeling will be used to maximize cell performance. The cell’s long-term stability operating on JP-8 fuel will be determined, and a lightweight, low temperature SOFC stack will be designed. In Phase II, a prototype, low temperature 200-500 W SOFC that operates directly on JP-8 will be developed to provide a compact electric generator for use a squad-level battery charger/power supply.