1. Direct Natural Gas-fueled Hybrid Fuel Cell
System For Producing Power and a Liquid Fuel
Our Technology
An integrated fuel production-fuel cell system that can utilize natural gas directly to co-produce electrical power and a liquid fuel, such as LPG.
Market Opportunity
Our technology targets monetizing natural gas or biogas from stranded sources which are
too small to support existing conversion technologies at the source,
too costly to transport to market, or
can no longer be flared.
Methane Coupling Catalyst
Our methane coupling catalyst is based upon Argonne/IIT single-site metal catalyst technology being developed for hydrocarbon processing. An example of a single-site metal catalyst is Fe/SiO2.
Fuel Production
Methane Coupling: 2CH4 → C2H6 + H2
Dehydrogenation: C2H6 → C2H4 + H2
Electrical
Energy
CH4
(Natural Gas)
C2-4’s
2e-
O2 (air)
H2O
Cathode
Anode
Proton-conducting
Electrolyte
H2 → 2H+ + 2e-
2H+ + 2e- +½O2 → H2O
2H+
Hybrid Fuel Cell System Fe Si O
Single-site
Fe in SiO2
Coking is a major cause of catalyst deactivation in non- oxidative methane coupling processes. Our studies have shown that single-site catalysts are less prone to coking than conventional supported metal nanoparticle catalysts.
Advantages of Our Technology
Co-produces both electrical power and a liquid fuel from natural gas.
Achieves higher methane conversion at a lower temperature compared to conventional methane coupling processes by using the fuel cell to consume hydrogen as it is produced.
Compared to other fuel cell technologies, our proton- conducting ceramic-based fuel cell
does not need an external fuel reformer to produce hydrogen unlike a low temperature (80-160°C) polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and
is less prone to thermally-induced material failure unlike a high temperature ( °C) solid oxide fuel cells.
TEM images comparing Fe NP before (a) and after (b) dehydrogenation catalysis showing formation of carbon nanotubes with (c) single site Fe/SiO2 catalyst after dehydrogenation catalysis which shows no evidence of carbon deposition.
Key Technical Challenges
A proton-conducting ceramic-based fuel cell that is capable of generating >200 mW/cm2 power at 500°C.
A methane coupling catalytic process that is capable of achieving a methane conversion efficiency of >50%.
A methodology for integrating the methane-coupling catalyst into the anode of the fuel cell.
A manufacturing cost of <$2000/kW.
Proton-Conducting Fuel Cell
Our proton-conducting ceramic-based fuel cell is based upon Argonne ceramic membrane technology developed for hydrogen separation.
Materials developed for ceramic membranes, such as yttrium-doped barium cerate (BCY), exhibit high conductivity when operated in a proton-conducting fuel cell.
Polarization curves of a proton-conducting hydrogen/air fuel cell with a 10 µm thick yttrium-doped barium cerate electrolyte (BCY) supported on a Ni/BCY anode with a Pt paste/Pt mesh cathode.
Our Team
Ted Krause (ANL)
Project Manager
Balu Balachandran (ANL)
Fuel Cell Development
Debbie Myers (ANL)
Fuel Cell Integration
Adam Hock (IIT)
Catalyst Development
Carlo Segre (IIT)
Liz Jordan (ANL)
Technology Manager
Ted Krause | Argonne National Laboratory | Department Head, Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division | |
Liz Jordan | Argonne National Laboratory | Technology Manager, Technology Development and Commercialization Division | |