Hydrogen Sulfide Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

美国每年生产超过1000万吨的硫化氢，硫化氢主要是煤、石油和天然气等化石燃料提炼过程中的副产品。这种有毒气体是在溶剂解吸中产生的，通常是用于净化碳氢化合物流的胺或醇。由于硫化氢没有大规模的商业用途，它的大部分在克劳斯过程中转化为硫，这是一种与空气不完全氧化的过程，硫化氢和氧反应形成单质固体硫和水。这是一种放热反应，释放热量，通常以蒸汽的形式捕获。这个研究项目正在研究一种更有效的发电而不是发热的方法。研制了一种以硫化氢为燃料，空气为氧化剂的高温固体氧化物燃料电池。这种装置可以产生清洁的电能，同时将剧毒气体转化为安全的原料。固体氧化物电解质似乎对硫化氢具有耐受性，并且在高于硫沸点的温度下工作，从而消除了负极处冷凝硫的中毒作用。初步实验结果表明，该材料具有较高的电化学活性。需要确定在合适的电极和电解质材料上的化学和电化学反应的性质。这些材料必须能承受反应物气体的腐蚀性，同时保持导电性和机械稳定性。几种候选材料将在实际燃料电池运行和更可控的实验条件下测试性能和稳定性。

Abstract - Winnick - 9321968 Each year the United States produces in excess of ten million tons of hydrogen sulfide, primarily as a by-product in the refining of fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. This toxic gas is generated in the desorption of the solvent, typically an amine or alcohol, used to purify the hydrocarbon stream. Because hydrogen sulfide has no large-scale commercial use, most of it is converted to sulfur in the Claus Process, which is and incomplete oxidation with air such that hydrogen sulfide and oxygen react to form elemental solid sulfur and water. This is an exothermic reaction which releases heat, normally captured in the form of steam. A more efficient method, which generates electricity rather than heat, is being studied in this research project. A high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell which uses hydrogen sulfide as the fuel and air as the oxidant is in development. Such a device can produce clean electrical energy and simultaneously convert highly toxic gas into a safe raw material. Solid oxide electrolytes seem tolerant to hydrogen sulfide and operate at temperatures above the boiling point of sulfur, thus eliminating the poisoning effect of condensed sulfur at the negative electrode. Preliminary experimental results have shown high electrochemical activity. The nature of the chemical and the electrochemical reactions on appropriate electrode and electrolyte materials needs to be established. These materials must withstand the corrosive nature of the reactant gases, while remaining conductive and mechanically stable. Several candidate materials will be tested for performance and stability in actual fuel cell runs and under more controlled experimental conditions.