| dc.description.abstract | For this study, an Open Flange solid oxide fuel cell setup was used to investigation degradation rate in two single cells. The two cells, while different in shape and size, consisted of an anode made of Ni/YSZ, an YSZ electrolyte, and an LSC coated cathode. The tests were done by fuelling the cells with hydrogen gas in addition to vaporised 32% anhydrous ammonia at temperatures ranging between 600 and 800 degree C. Each test day, an IV curve and corresponding EIS scan was taken for each fuel at each temperature. From the measurements, a degradation rate of 18.09% was observed for the first cell at 800 degree C when fuelled with hydrogen, while rates of 6.56%, 15.31%, and 7.96% were observed for the second cell at temperatures of 600, 700, and 800 degree C, respectively. When fuelled with ammonia the corresponding rates where 18.80%, 9.88%, and 8.78%. For the second part of the experiment a SEM and EDS analysis was performed on the first cell upon completing testing to look for signs of degradation in the cell structure. While difficult to draw an exact conclusion due to cell damaged suffered during sample preparation, the degradation was determined to likely stem from redox cycling. The third part of the study consisted of coming up with a couple of energy storage system designs for a company called North Ammonia, using hydrogen or ammonia in a PEMFC. Based on the analysis, a system using liquid ammonia gave a best overall efficiency of about 55.5%, with compressed hydrogen and ammonia being close, with efficiencies of 49.5% and 48.4% respectively. | |