Internal Reforming Research Articles

RESEARCH ON READINESS FOR BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS FROM UZBEKISTAN FOR COOPERATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES DURING THE FORMATION OF LOCAL ECONOMIC POLICY

Changes are taking place in Uzbekistan, which are characteristic of countries in transition from a centralized to a market economy. The country is entering a new era of development, which has an impact on the overall economic picture. After the presidential elections in 2016, a policy of reform and openness began to be implemented in Uzbekistan, which has a great impact on the political situation in the entire Central Asian region. According to many observers, the scale of political changes is unprecedented in the development of Central Asian countries since their independence. Unlike Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, reforms in Uzbekistan were not carried out under external pressure, but were voluntary and spontaneous with strong internal motivation. Due to the fact that the country realized that the centralized development model was unable to respond effectively to numerous internal and external challenges, it began to accelerate internal reforms, making successive changes to adapt to new realities. The positions of Uzbekistan in the international rating rankings are improving.Despite the successes achieved, the country’s highly centralized governance model does not allow local communities to be effectively involved in the planning and implementation of local policies for economic development. They are not active enough in identifying their infrastructure needs, in preparing community development plans, in implementing projects to modernize or build drinking water, gas and electricity systems, roads, schools and other basic infrastructure and public services. Underestimating the role of local communities in influencing the economic development of their regions is a restraining factor for economic development. Conversely, realizing the role of business organizations in shaping regional policy for local economic development is a great potential that has not yet been fully exploited.To prove this thesis, the authors conducted a survey of the attitude of business organizations in Uzbekistan to cooperation with local authorities. The results show that business representatives do not particularly rely on local authorities to stimulate the economic development of their cities and regions and, for this reason, do not show a particular desire to cooperate with them. This is a challenge, the overcoming of which can give the country a new impetus in terms of the economic development of the regions and settlements.

Enduring Hypocrisy as ASEAN's Organisational Problem?

This paper complements the limited scholarly interest in the case of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s consistent practice of word–deed gaps, or “hypocrisy” according to some scholars, by employing the insights of organisational sociology. Specifically, it introduces a claim that the gap between ASEAN's words and deeds can be understood as an organisational response to its material and political vulnerability in relation to its major external stakeholders, aiming to ensure its survival and adaptability. Accommodating multiple, or sometimes even conflicting, demands from various external actors, ASEAN may be able to secure its material and diplomatic engagement in developmental and political regionalism within Southeast Asia. However, ASEAN also wants to protect its local identity and practices; or it may want to avoid forced internal reforms at an undesirable scale and pace. In this context, organised hypocrisy would likely become a vital consideration for the complex institution. For ASEAN, this paper notes, these word–deed gaps reflect the way it wants to manage conflicting external demands as an international social agency.

Education for Political Transformation: Mobilisation of Ladakhi Youth in Himalaya, India

Mobilisation of Ladakhi youth in the upper hills of western Himalayas through education represents a distinct cultural and ethnic identity. Notwithstanding the possibility of studying such mobilisation as effects of education, this article highlights that, being educated outside of Ladakh, the youth not only cultivate and develop multiple levels of consciousness about their situation but also carefully employ their cultural imperatives to mobilise politically. In a regional historical context with a comparative perspective, education is analysed as a tool for mobilising youth which subsequently shaped the local community for political transformation. Instead of talking of youth in isolation, the analytical framework captures the narrative structures of educational transformation and political mobilisation in a region. Becoming a Union Territory in 2019 after the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state is the untold story behind the consistent struggle led by the Ladakhi-educated youth to articulate cultural and territorial identity and meet a long-standing demand for the regional autonomy. Through the narratives of history, this article highlights that the youth of Ladakh has been very much part of mobilisation for education as well as central to internal educational reforms and social progress that forecast the political imagination of a regional identity.

Exergy and environmental analysis of SOFC-based system including reformers and heat recovery approaches to establish hydrogen-rich streams with least exergy loss

Building total CO2 emissions must decline by more than 95 % from 2020 to 2050. Statistical studies affirm that 84 % of the fuel cell applications in the world are attributed to the residential market and are limited to the range of 0.5–5 kW. In this study, defining a building-based fuel cell, the first and second law of thermodynamics were approved for the hybrid system consisting of SOFC enhanced with an internal reformer and microturbine. In addition, an external reformer along with two heat recovery systems are integrated to change methane to hydrogen. Based on the exergy balance equation, 37 The installation of heat recoveries was very effective in hybrid system irreversibility reduction so they were able to reduce exergy losses by 38 %. The most irreversibility was related to chemical reactions that occurred in the external reformer (share of 37.3 %) and combustion chamber (share of 32 %) while the share of the fuel cell was only 10.7 %. The calculations of the second law showed that the hybrid system with heat recovery can convert 57.6 % of the input exergy into useful work. The environmental analysis revealed that establishing a hybrid system with a higher temperature is more effective than that with higher pressure. The CO2 emissions of the hybrid system at the lowest and highest temperature were 1.946 kg/kW and 0.81 kg/kW.

Polityczne skutki wojny na Ukrainie dla Unii Europejskiej

This article assesses the geopolitical consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022 on the European Union (EU). It seems to have highlighted the differences in the perception of the strategic situation between the eastern and western parts of the Union. These differences relate to the preferred relations with the United States, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, but also include the issue of systemic changes in the EU and how European integration is managed. This is also related to the different perception of the role of EU values as a mechanism potentially counteracting disintegration tendencies. The author’s question is how the war in Ukraine affects these two different perceptions of geopolitics and internal reforms in the EU. The main thesis of the study is that war highlights the differences between actors and has essentially not changed previous perceptions of geopolitical challenges.

Revitalizing the mission of higher education through a human rights-based approach

This article proposes that in a new social contract for education, reimagined universities should be institutions that are human rights-centered. A human rights mission incorporates conventional university policies oriented toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) but goes beyond this traditional framework by drawing attention to root causes of systemic violations of human rights (including violence within the university itself) and inclusive processes of internal reform, oriented towards social justice involving especially the voices of the most marginalized. This article begins with a presentation of the application of the human rights framework to university settings, including binding legal standards, soft policies, and a holistic framework known as the human rights-based approach. A human rights-centered university is one that will undertake change with an orientation toward deep transformation that will enable the university to fulfill its core aims to foster values such as respect, empathy, equality, and solidarity and promote active citizenship to address the pressing needs of society.

Historical and Cultural Context of the Development of the Ukrainian Museography: The Personology Dimension

The development of a distinctive form of scientific journalism, known as museography, started in the second half of the 19th c. within the Ukrainian territories of the Russian Empire. This article aims to explore how financial, industrial, political, sociocultural, and intellectual factors influenced the development of museography in Ukraine in the late 19th and early 20th c. The article describes the impact of political, economic, and sociocultural changes in the Russian Empire during this period, particularly their influence on the evolution of museography as a specialized branch of scientific literature. It is shown how internal reforms led to an expanded assortment of publications about Ukrainian museums and museum collections and the improvement in their material and scientific quality. It was proved that the key factor in the formation of the national museography was the patriotic spirit of the participants of this process. Despite significant subjective and objective obstacles, it is possible to argue that the global outlook of individuals engaged in museographic practices played a fundamental role in the emergence and development of museography on the Ukrainian territories of the Russian Empire.

Does increasing auditors' independence lead to more forceful public auditing? A study of a Canadian internal audit reform

AbstractThe value of auditing as an instrument of accountability depends upon the independence of auditors. However, the extent to which auditors feel free to review the operation, compliance, and performance of public programs and objectively communicate findings to stakeholders has rarely been assessed. A Canadian public service reform in 2006 introduced institutional safeguards to bolster the independence of departmental internal auditors, but left legislative auditors working for the Auditor General's Office (i.e., Canada's Supreme Audit Institution) unaffected. We analyze and compare 2677 audit reports written by internal and legislative auditors before and after the reform. After the reform, the language used by internal auditors became more assertive and evaluative, but not more critical. This suggests that the safeguards had a meaningful impact on how auditors perform their accountability function but that factors other than independence may be driving their willingness to be more adversarial and critical when communicating audit findings.

Kashmir Conflict after Article 370 and 35 A: Challenges and Options for Pakistan

This research explores the complex dynamics of the Kashmir Conflict following the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A by the Indian government on August 5, 2019. The historical roots of the incessant dispute, stemming from the British partition of the Indian Sub-continent, set the stage for ongoing tensions between two regional arch-rivals, Pakistan and India over the region. The revocation of constitutional provisions granting special privileges and autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir presents various challenges for Pakistan. Internal security concerns, diplomatic isolation, humanitarian issues, and economic implications form critical challenges. The options of Pakistan include bilateral talks, diplomatic engagement, humanitarian initiatives, promoting internal reforms, and regional stability. Balancing these challenges and options requires navigating a complex geopolitical and strategic landscape, recognizing historical grievances, and fostering peace and stability in the region.

An analytical study of internal and external factors influencing greenhouse gas emissions reporting in the Chinese banking sector

This paper utilises Bourdieu's theory of practice and secondary and interview data to investigate the impact of internal and external factors on the GHG reporting practices of Chinese banks. The paper shows in response to external stimulation; banks utilise measures to boost awareness and modify habitus via internal management reforms towards transparent and reliable GHG disclosures. These changes, in turn, allow the accumulation of social, economic and cultural capital. In addition, the findings reveal shortcomings in conducting internal management reform and external assurance. The paper provides insights into the motivations and changes required to improve the extent and quality of GHG disclosures.

Kaizen internal quality assurance adoption and quality performance improvement in Indonesian higher education institutions: The moderating role of IT development

Research aims: In 2018, strengthening Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), governance began to be promoted again by the Indonesian government after its first initiation in 2003. In doing so, the Indonesian government has adopted a new internal quality assurance framework for HEIs, i.e., the Kaizen method, which emphasizes the quality improvement process. In addition, the government recommended the development of IT advancement to support management practices at the HEIs, including internal quality assurance. However, to this day, related research that examines the extent to which these policies contribute to HEI quality performance improvement still needs to be improved. To meet the gap, the current study examined the Kaizen internal quality assurance implementation role on HEI quality performance by testing the IT development as a moderator.Design/Methodology/Approach: Using data from 191 HEI samples obtained from 31 of 34 provinces in Indonesia, the relationship between variables was tested by employing the Partial Least Square (PLS) technique.Research findings: The results exhibited that the Kaizen internal quality assurance implementation was positively associated with HEI quality performance, where IT development strengthened the relationship (moderated). However, since the direct relationship between IT development and HEI quality performance was also significant, the moderating role of IT development was quasi in nature.Theoretical contribution/Originality: The results provide new insights regarding the contributions of internal quality assurance reform supported by IT development to the HEI quality performance. Specifically, the study affirms the role of IT as a moderator.

Feasibility study on supercritical fuel cooled solid oxide fuel cell stack with internal reforming

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is regarded as a promising energy conversion device because of its advantages such as high efficiency and fuel flexibility. With the advent of aviation electrification era, SOFC has been gradually studied as aviation power system. However, the high temperature operation and temperature gradient of SOFC bring challenges to practical application. Nowadays SOFC systems often use excessive air as coolant to reduce the temperature gradient of SOFC, which leads to the increases of the fuel consumption and reduction of the power generation efficiency. In order to maintain a lower temperature gradient with less air, a supercritical fuel cooled SOFC scheme is proposed in this paper. By establishing a one-dimensional model of conventional air-cooled fuel cell and fuel cell with fuel cooling channel. Through calculating the fuel cell temperature gradient under different working conditions, the results show that when the excess air coefficient (EAC) is 3, the temperature gradient of air-cooled SOFC reaches 22.7K/cm, while the temperature gradient of SOFC with fuel channel decreases to 8.35K/cm. Therefore, the SOFC with fuel channel can effectively reduce the use of air, reduce parasitic power consumption and improve the efficiency of the system while maintaining a lower temperature gradient.

Numerical study on effects of CH4–CO2 internal reforming on electrochemical performance and carbon deposition of solid oxide fuel cell

CH4–CO2 fueled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the high-efficiency and low-carbon power generation technology. However, carbon deposition severely hinders its application. Here, the numerical model considering the complex anode CH4 internal reforming reactions, H2 electrochemical reaction, gas diffusion and charge transfer of SOFC using CH4–CO2 fuel has been established. The CH4–CO2 internal reforming and electrochemical reactions of SOFC under different CO2/CH4 ratios and temperatures are studied to reveal the optimal operating conditions. The distributions of different reaction rates, gas components and carbon deposition activity at the anode are analyzed. The results show that the increase of CO2 concentration can decrease the carbon activity but also cause the decrease of electrochemical performance. It is found that the good comprehensive performances including power density, carbon activity and methane conversion rate can be achieved under the CO2/CH4 molar ratio of 1. The thermodynamic calculation of three different methane reforming modes shows that CH4–CO2 reforming leads to the greatest carbon deposition risk compared with CH4–H2O and CH4–O2 reforming, implying the importance of anti-carbon for CH4–CO2 fueled SOFC.

Comparison of mathematical models of steam methane reforming process for the needs of fuel cells

The article presents a comparison of mathematical models of steam methane reforming. The analysis is divided into two parts. The first concerns the reforming process using separate steam reformers. The second part of the article compares models of steam methane reforming processes directly inside fuel cells. Due to the fact that the steam reforming process takes place at very high temperatures, internal steam reforming can only be carried out in high temperature fuel cells. Therefore, the second part of the article deals with molten carbonate fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells powered by methane. In the case of both of fuel cells, the methane steam reforming may take place directly on the anodes of these electrochemical devices. The mathematical models (for both external and internal reforming) were compared based on available experimental data. In this analysis of mathematical models, particular attention was paid to the causes of discrepancies between the mathematical models and the experimental data. The steam reforming process is influenced by a number of different parameters such as: temperature, ratio of the amount of water vapor to carbon contained in the fuel (steam to carbon ratio), reaction time, presence of a catalyst, type of catalyst and many others. The models presented in this article were also compared in terms of taking into account various parameters that may affect the process of steam reforming. An attempt was also made to assess the accuracy of mathematical models. Unfortunately, for most of the equations considered in this article, numerical values for inaccuracies are not given or described as acceptable or minor.

Progress in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Hydrocarbon Fuels

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)’ main advantage in fuel flexibility appears to be an interesting subject for further exploration. From the literature survey, direct utilisation of hydrocarbon as fuel for SOFCs has garnered attention with promising results reported. Various approaches, showcasing potential for using methane (CH4) and heavier hydrocarbons in SOFCs, have been described. The direct use of hydrocarbons can occur through either direct internal reforming or gradual internal reforming, with requisite precautionary measures to mitigate carbon formation. While the internal reforming process could proceed via steam reforming, dry reforming or partial oxidation, an exciting development in the direct use of pure hydrocarbons, seems to progress well. Further exploration aims to refine strategies, enhance efficiency and ensure the long-term stability and performance of hydrocarbon-fuelled SOFC systems. This review delves into the progress in this field, primarily over the past two decades, offering comprehensive insights. Regardless of fuel type, studies have largely concentrated on catalyst compositions, modifications and reaction conditions to achieve better conversion and selectivity. Finding suitable anode materials exhibiting excellent performance and robustness under demanding operating conditions, remains a hurdle. Alternatively, ongoing efforts are directed towards lowering working temperatures, enabling consideration of a wider range of materials with improved electrochemical performance.

Direct Utilization of Pure and Denatured Ethanol in Metal Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFC) are integrated with high entropy alloy reforming catalyst for direct internal reforming utilization of pure ethanol, methanol, and denatured ethanol to generate electricity. Internal reforming SOFCs have advantages over the external reforming SOFCs in terms of cost, energy efficiency, and space-saving. Performance and durability with denatured ethanol, mimicking the compositions of widely commercially-available bio-ethanol, varies dramatically with the composition of the denaturant. This evaluation of bio-ethanol fuel for SOFC application extends beyond the previous literature focusing on high-purity ethanol. Mitigation of carbon deposition is critical to extend the lifetime of MS-SOFCs operating with ethanol. Conventional Ni catalyst shows rapid carbon deposition, and in contrast the HEA catalyst has excellent resistance to carbon deposition. The HEA also enables complete internal reforming without localized cooling, resulting in high power density >0.8 W/cm2 at 700°C. Long-term operation (500-1000 hours) at the operating temperature of 600-800°C will be presented. Various strategies are applied to improve the cell stability. The effect of impurities and fuel compositions on the cell performance and stability is evaluated. Other degradation factors such as Cr evaporation and catalyst agglomeration are analyzed by SEM-EDS and EIS. It is found that MS-SOFCs are promising for direct utilization of bio-ethanol, offering a path to rapid-start, carbon-neutral operation.

(Digital Presentation) Au-Mo-Fe-Ni/CeO2(Gd2O3) As Potential Fuel Electrodes for Internal CO2 Reforming of CH4 in Single SOFCs

Recycling biogas to produce syngas (H2 + CO) through Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM) has currently attract resurgent interest. Biogas consists mainly of CH4 (55-65%) and CO2 (35-45%) and is widely produced by anaerobic fermentation of biomass [1]. DRM provides a feasible solution to eliminate greenhouse gases via production of useful chemicals and hydrocarbons.Considering the DRM energy applications the produced syngas can be used as a fuel in high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for electricity production or biogas can be directly fueled in the cell without the need of an external reformer (Internal Dry Reforming of Methane, IDRM), which simplifies the SOFC system and reduces the cost [2,3]. Specifically, during IDRM at temperatures higher than 800 oC, the catalytic Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction may run in parallel with electrocatalytic reactions, resulting in the consumption of valuable H2. In addition, carbon deposition on the electrocatalyst surface due to CH4 decomposition, which is favored at elevated temperatures (≥ 700 oC), may also occur resulting in progressive electrocatalyst deactivation [4].Ni-based ceramic-metal composites with Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) and Gadolinia Doped Ceria (GDC) are widely used as electrocatalysts in SOFCs because of their activity and inexpensiveness. However, nickel catalyses the formation of carbon deposits from hydrocarbons and exhibits a tendency to agglomerate after prolonged operation [3,4]. The carbon tolerance and anti-sintering tendency of nickel and specifically of Ni/GDC can be enhanced, by dispersing trace amounts of transition noble (Rh, Pt, Pd, Ru, Au) or non-noble (Co, Cu, Mo, Fe) metal elements [3,5].In this study the catalytic and electro-catalytic performance, as well as the coking resistance of Au (1 and 3 wt.%), Mo (0.4 wt.%) and Fe (0.5 and 2 wt.%) modified Ni/CeO2(Gd2O3) electro-catalysts were studied as half and full electrolyte supported cells under internal CO2 reforming of CH4 in single SOFCs, at 750-900 oC. The aim was to elucidate their activity towards the consumption of CH4, CO2, the production of H2, H2O, CO and the production of carbon, as a function of temperature and the applied current density under a biogas fuel mixture of CH4/CO2=1. Additionally, the cells comprising a modified Ni/GDC fuel electrode, an 8 mol% Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (8YSZ) electrolyte were characterized using I-V measurements and Electrochemical Impedance Spectra (EIS) analysis in order to investigate the evolution of the ohmic and polarization resistance values as a reflection of current. Complementary physicochemical characterization includes thermo-gravimetric measurements for the catalytic dissociation of CH4 and CO2 at 800 oC. In brief, the cell with Ni/GDC was more active catalytically compared to the modified cells, but exhibited worst electrocatalytic performance. The cells with 3 wt.% Au-0.4 wt.% Mo-Ni/GDC and 3 wt.% Au-0.5 wt.% Fe-Ni/GDC fuel electrodes were moderately active catalytically, but performed better. The main degradation factor for the unmodified cell was the higher carbon formation, which increased gradually with the increased current and was reflected on higher ohmic and polarization resistance values compared to the modified cells. Acknowledgments This research has been co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the operational program ‘Regional Excellence’ and the operational program ‘Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation’, under the call “RESEARCH-CREATE-INNOVATE” (Project code: T2EΔK-00955).

Fuel-Flexible Ceramic Fuel Cells at Reduced Operating Temperatures

Ceramic fuel cells are uniquely capable of generating power using a wide range of fuels, including hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and ammonia. One of the primary issues of ceramic fuel cells for large-scale power generation originates from the high operating temperature, which leads to limited material choices for interconnects and sealants, expensive balance of plants, slow start-up and shutdown cycles, and high degradation rates, inevitably limiting their scaleup and commercialization. Reducing the temperature to <600 °C could transform the architecture and operation of ceramic fuel cells. However, the internal reforming of hydrocarbons is endothermic, which is thermodynamically and kinetically unfavorable at lowered operating temperatures, necessitating the development of internal reforming catalysts to enhance the anode catalytic activity. This talk will first focus on presenting the approaches that have been validated for designing and synthesizing internal reforming catalysts, with a particular focus on internal steam reforming and dry reforming of methane. Additionally, the characterization of high-performance ceramic fuel cells equipped with these catalysts will also be discussed. The associated challenges and proposing strategies from different perspectives will also be provided in this talk.

Development of High-Entropy Alloy (HEA) Anode for Carbon-Free and Electrochemically-Stable Operation of SOFC on Hydrocarbon Fuels

State of the art SOFCs, consisting of Ni base anode, experience excessive localized endothermic cooling and carbon deposition during internal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels. To mitigate the above issues, we developed high-entropy alloy (HEA) anode consisting of optimized mixture of Cu, Ni, Co, Fe and Mn transition metals. Alloys were synthesized using co-precipitation technique and experimentally evaluated for internal reforming and electrochemical activity under SOFC operating conditions. As-synthesized HEA catalysts were also characterized by techniques including N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, SEM, XRD, TPR, TPO and TPD. Compared with standard Ni/YSZ and Ni/GDC anodes, HEA anode containing gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) showed controlled reforming of methane. Raman spectroscopy and SEM microscopy confirmed the absence of carbon on the HEA/GDC anode.

Design of High Specific Power Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has progressed from the early Electrolyte Supported Cell (ESC) to state-of-the-art Anode Supported Cell (ASC), which allows the implementation of thinner electrolyte layer (less than 10 micron) and reduction in the operating temperature (below 800°C). The various components of SOFC are constantly being optimized by many research groups to further improve the overall stack performance, including specific power, power density, thermal shock resistance, rapid start-up, and thermal cycling exposure.Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) has been working on an advanced electrochemical-based energy storage and power generator design for meeting aggressive specific-power and specific-energy targets required for mobile and transportation applications, such as all-electric propulsion of ground and air vehicles. The key drivers are an exceptionally power-dense solid oxide fuel cell design operating with energy-dense liquid fuels and a hybridized system architecture that maximizes component efficiencies for ultra-high system efficiency. This effort builds on PCI’s experience in developing groundbreaking SOFC generators for mobile and space applications.PCI has developed and demonstrated a novel design of fuel cells with high specific power, that also allows for direct internal reforming of methane and hydrocarbon fuels within a SOFC stack. The system consists of interconnected internal reforming Microlith® metal mesh catalysts strategically embedded within the solid oxide stack. The fuel cell configuration was optimized to reduce CTE mismatch and to improve area specific resistance. The resulting enhanced heat transfer design of the combined components offers the potential for higher overall system efficiency and system simplification as well as enables further compactness and weight reduction of the fuel cell while improving the conditions for long system life. The approach also offers the potential to operate with a wide range of input fuels (i.e., high hydrocarbons as well as various levels of CO2 and water in the fuel inlet) without forming carbon. Carbon formation within the stack system has been known to be detrimental to the performance and durability. Our approach allows for the operation of a modular, advanced SOFC stack for generating power directly from hydrocarbon fuels. Computational design, process simulation, and qualification testing were performed to validate the concept.In this presentation, the results from a breadboard SOFC stack system operation will be highlighted, including the power density, efficiency, and durability. An improvement in the performance as a result of the design advancement, which could improve the stack lifetime, will also be described. The carbon avoidance in the stack while operating with hydrocarbon fuels and with a low water requirement was confirmed. Sensitivity study of the concept to temperature, flow rate, and anode fuel composition was performed and will be highlighted. Finally, preliminary results from the fuel cell design optimization activities will be summarized.