Integration of solid oxide fuel cells with multi-element diffusion flame burners

A direct flame fuel cell setup is designed and built based on a multi-element diffusion flame burner (MEDB). Flame temperature measurements are made using a fine-wire S-type thermocouple to characterize the flat flame burner performance. The MEDB is proven to provide uniform, ~1D conditions above the surface of the burner, with temperature variations of less than ±2% in the transverse direction (parallel to the burner surface). The temperature distribution in flame height direction is also approximately uniform within the length of 45 mm. Direct flame fuel cell experiments were performed using an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based on button cell geometry. The cell power density can reach up to 400 W/m2 with fuel equivalent ratio at f = 1.2 and flame temperature at 1085 K, which is around 1/3 of the original performance of the SOFC fueled with 97% hydrogen at 1073 K. Finally, a novel DFFC configuration is proposed to take advantage the flame uniformity in both the vertical and horizontal directions.