A solid oxide fuel cell fuelled by methane recovered from groundwater

This study investigates the feasibility of electricity production in a solid oxide fuel cell using methane recovered from groundwater as fuel. Methane must be removed for drinking water to, amongst others, avoid bacterial regrowth. Instead releasing to atmosphere or converting it carbon dioxide by flaring, can also vacuum stripping and served However, electrical efficiency currently used combustion-based technologies fuelled with methane-rich gas is limited 35% due low heating value (70 mol. % methane) power derating presence (25 mol.%). We propose use Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are fuel-flexible potentially attain higher efficiencies up 60%. To this end, specific processing, including cleaning reforming, required allow durable operation cell. assessed whether could generated full-scale treatment plant The had concentration 45 mg∙L-1, towers contained 70 mol% methane. reactor impregnated activated remove hydrogen sulfide traces gas. Thermodynamic calculations showed that additional steam achieve high reforming. added content simultaneously contribute reforming prevent deposition. measured open circuit potential corresponded theoretical Nernst voltage, implying achieved density (mixed steam) was 27% less than hydrogen-fuelled Ultimately, 51.2% demand covered replacing engine 915 kW system groundwater, while greenhouse emission reduced 17.6%.