Biogas Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System

Biogas is a readily available, renewable fuel source which can be produced in a farm-scale anaerobic digestion system. The biogas fuel provides the greatest utility and value when converted to electricity. The generally high concentration of hydrogen sulfide in biogas causes problems in most internal combustion (IC) engine-based systems (due to corrosion) and fuel cell-based systems (due to poisoning of the reforming catalysts and anodes). The proposed research will study the feasibility of using the Technology Management, Inc. (TMI) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system with TMI's proprietary sulfur tolerant anode and sulfur tolerant reforming catalyst. Experiments will focus on proving operating feasibility using simulated biogas in single cell fuel cell and steam reforming tests.