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Fuel-cell technology

Running on natural gas

Nature volume 400, pages 619–621 (1999)Cite this article

Deregulation of the electric power industry and more stringent emission controls are stimulating investment into fuel-cell systems, which are virtually free from noxious emissions of nitrogen oxides normally associated with burning fossil fuels. They can convert chemical energy directly into electricity with greater efficiency than most other devices, which both conserves fuel resources and reduces CO2emissions. Although hydrogen is considered the ideal fuel for many energy-conversion systems, its widespread use is dependent on technological breakthroughs in its cost and storage. So it is best to assume that in the immediate future, except for a few niche markets, fuel cells will have to use hydrocarbons (such as methane) or alcohols (such as methanol) as fuel. In this context, it is timely to examine the merits of direct electrochemical oxidation of methane in a fuel cell reported by Murray et al.1 on page 649of this issue.

Over the past decade there has been a growing realization that there could be an important market for small (1-10 kW) thick-film SOFC stacks operating at intermediate temperatures (500-700 °C). These systems could provide heating and electricity for buildings4 (domestic and small commercial units), or provide electrical power for auxiliary functions (such as electric windows or air conditioning) in vehicles5. Although the provision of excess steam is appropriate for relatively large (> 1 MW) SOFC systems, it introduces cost and efficiency penalties as the system size is reduced. Direct electrochemical oxidation of dry methane in intermediate-temperature SOFCs, as developed by Murray et al.1, would have many advantages in small-scale applications.

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Figure 1: Fuel processing reactions (reforming of methane to hydrogen fuel) and their influence on the complexity and efficiency of different types of fuel cell.
Figure 2: Conversion of methane by an oxide catalyst7.

References

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  1. Department of Materials, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

    Brian C. H. Steele

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Steele, B. Running on natural gas. Nature 400, 619–621 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/23144

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