EAGER: Feasibility Study of Solving Sulfur Contamination Problem of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in Coal-Fired Power Plants Using Power Control

该项目的目的是研究在基于固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）的燃煤电厂中使用功率调节系统的可行性，以脉冲SOFC的功率，从而使足够数量的O2从SOFC阴极扩散到阳极，氧化阳极表面的硫，从而防止硫损坏阳极。提出的除硫方法为sofc提供了传统的基于吸收剂的保护方法所不能提供的必要保护。该方法还降低了除硫的成本，因为它允许使用不那么强大和便宜的吸收剂，甚至不需要吸收剂。该方法还具有防止煤中的其他污染物（如as、P、Hg、Cd、Zn、Sb、Pb、Bi、Na、K、Fe和Ni）破坏SOFCs的潜力，而无需额外的吸收剂。广泛影响该项目可以加快基于sofcs的燃煤电厂的发展，从而有助于国家的改善。美国能源安全和生活质量。该项目将为电力电子和电力系统领域的学生提供研究和实践经验，并使学生接触到煤气化和SOFC等前沿技术。该项目还将通过将研究成果纳入本科生电力电子课程，加强蒙大拿州立大学（MSU）学生的电力电子教育。该项目还将通过会议报告和期刊出版物传播研究成果。

ObjectiveThe objective of the project is to investigate the feasibility to use the power conditioning systems in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)-based coal-fired power plants to pulse the power of the SOFCs, thereby causing a sufficient amount of O2 to diffuse from the SOFC cathodes to anodes, oxidize the sulfur on the anode surfaces, and hence prevent the sulfur from damaging the anodes.Intellectual Merit The proposed sulfur removal method provides the necessary protection to the SOFCs that the conventional absorbent-based protection method does not offer. The method also reduces the cost for sulfur removal because it allows less powerful and cheaper absorbents to be used or even make an absorbent unnecessary. The method also has the potential to prevent other contaminants in coal, such as As, P, Hg, Cd, Zn, Sb, Pb, Bi, Na, K, Fe, and Ni, from damaging the SOFCs without requiring additional absorbents. Broad ImpactThe project can expedite development of SOFCs-based coal-fired power plants and therefore contributes to improvement of the nation?s energy security and quality of life. The project will provide research and hand-on experience to students in the area of power electronics and power systems and expose the students to leading-edge technologies such as coal-gasification and SOFC. The project will also enhance student education in power electronics at Montana State University (MSU) by incorporating research results in an undergraduate power electronics course. The project will also disseminate research results through conference presentations and journal publications.