Effect of Steam-to-Carbon Ratio on Degradation of Ni-YSZ Anode Supported Cells

Internal steam reforming (IR) of methane was investigated on Ni- YSZ anode supported cells, looking in particular at the effect of the steam to carbon (S/C) ratio on the degradation rate. The cells were fed with different H2O/CH4 mixtures during 100 hours sequences, alternating with sequences of dry H2 feeding. V-I characterization was performed before and after each sequence, and EIS measurements were performed regularly. A marked degradation was observed during the IR sequences while it was negligible under dry H2 feed. The observed degradation, attributed to carbon deposition on the anode active sites, was partially reversible for S/C >1.5, whereas it became irreversible at lower S/C.