Mathematical modeling of a porous media burner based methane flame fuel cell

A detailed two-dimensional axisymmetric computational model of a flame fuel cell (FFC) unit was developed and presented. The FFC unit is based on the integration of a fuel-rich methane flame in a porous media burner and a micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The model considered the coupling effects of the chemical reactions and electrochemical reactions and the heat-transport, mass-transport and charge -transport processes in the FFC. The simulated temperature distribution and electrochemical characteristics showed good agreement with experimental data. The coupling mechanism of the fuel-rich flame and the SOFC anode were clarified. The Ni catalyst in the anode and the electrochemical reactions promoted the conversion of CH₄ in porous media fuel-rich combustion.