LT: Pollution Control in Fuel Cell Applications Using Ceramic Candle Filter for Cleaner Power Generation

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9727294 Huque The overall objective of this research effort is to develop a method of removing particulates and toxic pollutants from coal gas to be used in fuel cell for cleaner power generation. First specific objective of this research effort is to develop a working prototype of a preconditioned ceramic filter and, through rigorous testing under varying flow conditions at ambient temperature and pressure, show its effectiveness in protecting downstream components of a fuel cell. A second objective of this research effort is to develop a method of reducing sulfur and other contaminants from the coal gas by introducing controlled size sorbent particles while zmg candle filter pressure differential and the risk of filter candle blinding or plugging. Coal is the most widely distributed and readily available resource in USA. Currently about 50% of electricity production is by directly burning coal or coal gas. Combustion and gasification of coal produces both primary and secondary pollutants. One of the alternative way to utilize this vast coal resource of the nation and world with relatively cleaner emission is the use of coal gas in fuel cell for power generation. Fuel cell provide a new and exciting option for the efficient conversion of fossil fuels to electricity with much reduced emmission of pollutants. Commercial development of fuel-cell technology has been underway in the United States for over 25 years. A variety of fuel cells have been developed of which molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) appears to be the optimum fuel cell design approach. Gasified coal is expected to be the major source of fuel gas for MCFCS, but because coal contains many contaminants in a wide range of concentrations, fuels derived from this source also contains a considerable amount of contaminants. A critical concern with these contaminants is the concentration level that can be tolerated by MCFCs without suffering significant degradation in performance or reductio n in cell life. Ceramic candle filtration is an attractive technology for the removal of particulate at high temperature in Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion (PFBC), Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and other coal utilization processes. Due to their simple, cost effective design, high temperature capability, and effectiveness in particulate removal. ceramic candles easily achieve New Source Performance Standards and Clean Air Act mandates for particulate emissions, as well as gas turbine manufacturer particulate requirements. Although the application of ceramic candle technology to PFBC and IGCC applications has been vast, little progress has been made to integrate candle filter technology to address the very different and more stringent gas stream clean-up needs of fuel cell applications. This two year project will focus on the design, testing, and development of unique preconditioned candle filter which when combined with a patented technique for the use of a controlled particle size, once-through sorbent, will reduce the risk of fuel cell stack fouling and simultaneously increase filter candle life expectancy and performance by maintaining a porous dust cake on the filtering surfaces. A simple candle filtering will be constructed at Prairie View A&M University. Testing of several different preconditioned filter candles will be conducted under various flow conditions. Optimum preconditioning coating will be recommended for a given set of conditions. Long term effect of sorbent particle size will also be explored. ***