The Internal Reforming Fuel Cells as a Clean Energy System for Natural Gas Utilization in the Kingdom

Internal Conversion in the Membrane-Supported SOFC

“…Steam reforming is a well-known process for producing hydrogen or hydrogencontaining gas (synthesis gas) from methane or other hydrocarbon fuels. For methane, the conversion process [1], accompanied by the shift reaction [2], proceeds on the surface of the catalyst, which is most often nickel:…”

“…(ΔH298 = -41.15 kJ/mol) [2] Steam reforming of methane is a highly endothermic reaction. According to thermodynamic calculations, the equilibrium in equation [1] shifts towards the reaction products at high temperatures and low pressures.…”

“…Nickel catalysts have proven their effectiveness due to the simplicity of their manufacture, stability, and chemical activity (1). On such catalysts, the products of steam reforming are determined by the thermodynamic equilibrium established between equations [1][2][3][4][5].…”

“…It has long been known that the heat required for the endothermic methane conversion process can be provided by an electrochemical reaction in a stack (2,3). This has led to the development of various concepts for internal reforming in high temperature solid oxide fuel cells.…”