Feasibility of palm-biodiesel fuel for a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell

The feasibility of a direct internal reforming (DIR) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) running on wet palm-biodiesel fuel (BDF) was demonstrated. Simultaneous production of H2-rich syngas and electricity from BDF could be achieved. A power density of 0.32 W cm−2 was obtained at 0.4 A cm−2 and 800 °C under steam to carbon ratio of 3.5. Subsequent durability testing revealed that a DIR-SOFC running on wet palm-BDF exhibited a stable voltage of around 0.8 V at 0.2 A cm−2 for more than 1 month with a degradation rate of approximately 15 % / 1000 h. The main cause of the degradation was an increase in the ohmic resistance.