Methane steam reforming reaction in solid oxide fuel cells: Influence of electrochemical reaction and anode thickness

Abstract

The influence of operation temperature, inlet gas composition, current density and the anode thickness on the methane steam reforming reaction over nickel yttria-stabilized zirconia anodes was experimentally studied in solid oxide fuel cells. The experimental results were analyzed using data fitting in Power-Law and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic models. Similar trends of dependence of methane and steam partial pressures were observed in both models. The methane reaction order is positive. Negative influence of steam partial pressure on the methane steam reforming reaction rate are found. The electrochemical reaction and anode thickness affect the reforming kinetics parameters. The anodes thickness shows particular influences on the steam reaction order, and the activation energy when a current is produced. The model evaluation suggests that the two models are comparable and the extra parameters within the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model are contributing to the lower mean absolute percentage error and higher coefficient of determination R 2 . • Current promotes the methane steam reforming reaction rate. • Anode thickness influences the fitted activation energy. • More experimental data is helpful in getting a reliable rate expression. • Importance of studying effect of mass-transfer on the global MSR kinetics.