Premium
Efficient Generation of Electricity from Methane using High Temperature Fuel Cells – Status, Challenges and Prospects
Author(s) -
Manohar Aswin K.,
Narayanan S. R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201400093
Subject(s) - commercialization , durability , methane , electricity , electricity generation , capital cost , chemistry , natural gas , process engineering , fuel cells , operating temperature , environmental economics , waste management , power (physics) , chemical engineering , business , engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , economics , physics , organic chemistry , marketing , database , quantum mechanics
High temperature fuel cells (HTFCs), comprising solid oxide fuel cells and molten carbonate fuel cells, present efficient means for generating electricity from methane and natural gas. The high quality heat generated by HTFCs allows operation in the combined heat and power mode (CHP) to further enhance efficiency. The overall fuel‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of an HTFC system operating in CHP mode can approach up to 80 %. Despite the high operating efficiency of HTFCs, high capital costs and durability issues have hindered their widespread commercialization. This article provides an overview of the operating principles, technical challenges, commercialization status of HTFCs, and outlines the strategies being adopted to lower capital costs and increase durability.