Operation of Metal-Supported SOFC with Charcoal Fuel

Point Source Power develops consumer products incorporating metal-supported SOFC technology licensed from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The first product is the VOTOTM, designed to operate in wood- or charcoal-burning cookstoves prevalent throughout the developing world. The VOTOTM is fueled by charcoal, and heated to 650-850°C operation temperature during cooking, producing a few watts of electricity. Particular challenges when using charcoal fuel include: thermochemistry in the anode chamber, identification of electrochemically-active species, mineral content of wood chars, and thermal activation of the desired reactions. Power density in excess of 100 mW/cm2 is achieved at 800°C. Performance below 700°C is severely limited.