Experimental Investigation of Naphthalene Induced Degradation of Reversible Solid Oxide Cells Operated on Bio-Syngas

The model tar Naphthalene is used to experimentally investigate the influence of polycyclic aromatic components on the performance of 10 x 10 cm² fuel-electrode supported solid oxide cells operated at artificial bio-syngas under internal reforming conditions. Two different fuel electrodes based on yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) are investigated. A parameter study of the operational temperature and the operation mode is conducted with the YSZ based fuel electrode to quantify the effect on the degradation. The influence of the set-up is investigated by an experiment without the cell. The fuel off-gas composition as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to characterize the cell prior to the experiment and to monitor its performance during the poisoning and regeneration process. The measurements are interpreted via the distribution of relaxation times.