Operation of real landfill gas fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using internal dry reforming

Biomass is one renewable energy source, which is independent from solar radiation and wind effect. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC’s) are able to convert landfill gas derived from landfill directly into electricity and heat with a high efficiency. In the present work a planar 16cm2 SOFC cell was operated with a real landfill gas from one of the largest Danish waste dump sites and additional carbon dioxide reforming agent at 750˚C, both with gas cleaning through an active carbon filter and without.

The tests showed an electric efficiency up to ~60%. It was found that the active carbon filter was necessary to prevent poisoning and thereby to decrease the degradation rate.