Efficient, High Power Density Hydrocarbon-Fueled Solid Oxide Stack System

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes to further develop and mature an innovative high power density design for direct internal reforming of regolith off-gases (e.g., methane and high hydrocarbons) within a solid oxide stack, which has been successfully demonstrated in the ongoing Phase II effort. The resulting breakthrough design offers the stack operation with higher overall efficiency, resulting in system simplification and enabling further compactness and weight reduction of the fuel cell stack while significantly improving SOFC efficiency and the conditions for long system life. The approach has also been demonstrated to operate with a wide range of input fuels (i.e., methane with various levels of CO, CO2 and water) without forming carbon. In Phase II, the proposed tasks were completed to demonstrate internal reforming concept for a CH4-fueled solid oxide stack system. In Phase II-E, we will build on Phase II success to further develop, mature the design, and demonstrate a TRL-5, solid oxide stack system operating with CH4 with a much improved power density. PCI's integrated reformer/fuel cell system has been proven to be much smaller, lighter, more thermally effective and efficient, and less expensive than current technology or prospective alternative structured catalytic reactor technologies. This effort would continue to utilize those benefits and would be valuable to NASA as it would significantly reduce the known spacecraft technical risks and increase mission capability/durability/efficiency.

SOFC technology has aerospace & aeronautic applications. For spacecraft & deep-space missions, PCI’s approach offers an integrated efficient, lightweight, compact means of utilizing fuels generated by in-situ resources (regolith off-gases or Martian atmosphere processed via Sabatier reactor). It offers power density, efficiency & reduced costs for critical operations for Martian/deep space missions. PCI's integrated system will be smaller & lighter to reduce launch mass/cost. Aeronautic application includes electrified aircrafts & APUs.

Non-NASA applications include SOFC-based application in the aircraft, ground vehicle, and distributed power generation industry. The implementation of PCI’s internal reforming technology will lead to significant cost reduction by eliminating the external reformer and heat exchanger in the SOFC system, plus increase stack efficiency to make the SOFC system more cost effective and competitive.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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