Main reason for the current losses in electrolytic magnesium production is the reaction between electrode products. Present study was devoted to effective separation of chlorine gas from the electrolysis environment by a new cell design and thus reducing the extent of back reaction between magnesium and chlorine to decrease energy consumption values. The new cell design was tested by changing temperature, cathode surface, current density, anode cathode distance and electrolyte composition. Both the voltages and the current efficiencies were considered to be influenced by the amount and hydrodynamics of chlorine bubbles in inter-electrode region. Cell voltages were also found to be affected from the nucleation of magnesium droplets and changes in electrolyte composition that took place during the electrolysis. A hydrodynamic model was used to calculate net cell voltage by including the resistance of chlorine bubbles on anode surface to theoretical decomposition voltage during electrolysis. Good correlations were obtained between experimental and calculated voltages. The same model was used to calculate current efficiencies by considering chlorine diffusion from bubble surfaces. A general agreement was obtained between calculated and experimental current efficiencies. Desired magnesium deposition morphology and detachment characteristics from cathode were obtained when MgCl2-NaCl-KCl-CaCl2 electrolytes were employed. Current efficiencies higher than 90% could be achieved using the above electrolyte. The cell consumes around 8 kWh&amp / #903 / kg-1 Mg at 0.43 A&amp / #903 / cm-2 as a result of high chlorine removal efficiency and capability of working at low inter-electrode distances. Furthermore, the cell was capable of producing magnesium with less than the lowest energy consumption industrially obtained, at about double the commonly practiced industrial current density levels.

<p>The corrosion of current collector materials in MoltenCarbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) is investigated. The essential aimsof this investigation were to study the corrosion behaviour ofdifferent materials, in varying cathode and anode MCFCenvironments, and to study the contact corrosion resistancesbetween the MCFC current collector and electrodes. For thesepurposes, pure iron, iron-chromium binary alloys and severalcommercial steels were investigated in molten carbonate meltswithin the pot-cell laboratory set-up. In addition, the contactcorrosion resistances, between an AISI 310 current collectorand two cathodes (NiO and LiCoO₂), were studied in a laboratory fuel cell.Post-tests were done to study the corrosion products formed atthe surfaces.</p><p>In cathode environments, corrosion potential increased overtime as a protective corrosion layer slowly formed. Eventually,the potential reached a stable value close to the cathodeoperating potential. The main cathode reaction, as corrosionpotential increased, changed from water reduction to oxygenreduction. Corrosion rate under the operating cathode conditiondepended on the chromium content; the higher the concentrationof chromium, the lower the corrosion rate. The corrosion ratesof ferritic steels, with high chromium content, and AISI 310were higher at the so-called outlet operating condition incomparison to the standard and so-called inlet conditions. Thecorrosion rate was higher at the beginning of the exposure,which resulted in a relatively fast corrosion layer growth thatslowed as the protective layer was formed. It was shown thatthe corrosion layers, formed on iron-chromium alloys, AISI 310and ferritic high chromium-containing steels, consisted of twolayers. The outer layer was porous and iron rich, while theinner layer was quite compact and rich in chromium and/oraluminiumTherefore, the corrosion behaviour was dependent onthe corrosion layer structure at the metal surface.</p><p>In anode environments, the beneficial behaviour of aluminiumin ferritic alloys, with high aluminium contents, was due tothe formation of aluminium oxide and/or lithium aluminium oxideat the surface. The corrosion rates at the standard and outletconditions were of the same order of magnitude, while thecorrosion rates at the inlet conditions were considerablyhigher. The lower temperatures and higher carbon dioxideconcentrations in the inlet conditions appeared to result in asurface layer deficient in aluminium. A modified theoreticalmodel was developed to evaluate the corrosion current densitiesfrom experimental polarisation curves or linear polarisationresistance measurements in anode environments. The fittingswere found to be very good.</p><p>An experimental method was developed for<i>in-situ</i>measurements of the contributions to the totalohmic losses at the cathode in a laboratory scale MCFC. Thecontact resistance between the cathode and current collectorcontributed quite a large value to the total cathodepolarization. The corrosion layer, formed between the LiCoO₂cathode and AISI 310 current collector, wasiron-rich and more porous, and contained a small amount ofcobalt. This was deemed to consist of a two-phase oxide, whichresulted in a lower conductivity. The corrosion layer, formedbetween the NiO cathode and AISI 310 current collector, wasrich in nickel. The corrosion layers on the AISI 310, incontact with the cathode, had a different composition comparedto samples immersed in carbonate melts.</p><p><b>Key words</b>: molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), corrosion,current collector, contact corrosion resistance.</p>

<p>Fuel cells are promising candidates for converting chemical energy into electrical energy. The Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) is a high temperature fuel cell that produces electrical energy from a variety of fuels containing hydrogen, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Since the waste heat has a high temperature it can also be used leading to a high overall efficiency.</p><p>Material degradation and the cost of the components are the problems for the commercialisation of MCFC. Although there are companies around the world starting to commercialise MCFC some further cost reduction is needed before MCFC can be fully introduced at the market.</p><p>In this work, alternative materials for three different components of MCFC have been investigated. The alternative materials should have a lower cost compared to the state-of-the-art materials but also meet the life-time goal of MCFC, which is around 5 years. The nickel dissolution of the cathode is a problem and a cathode with lower solubility is needed. The dissolution of nickel for three alternative cathode materials was investigated, where one of the materials had a lower solubility than the state-of-the-art nickel oxide. This material was also tested in a cell and the electrochemical performance was found to be comparable with nickel oxide and is an interesting candidate.</p><p>An inexpensive anode current collector material is also desired. For the anode current collector, the contact resistance should be low and it should have good corrosion properties. The two alternative materials tested had low contact resistance, but some chromium enrichment was seen at the grain boundaries. This can lead to a decreased mechanical stability of the material. In the wet-seal area, the stainless steel used as bipolar/separator plate should be coated. An alternative process to coat the stainless steel, that is less expensive, was evaluated. This process can be a suitable process, but today, when the coating process is done manually there seems to be a problem with the adherence.</p><p>This work has been a part of the IRMATECH project, which was financed by the European Commission, where the partners have been universities, research institutes and companies around Europe.</p>

In order to make thermal solar power compete with the traditional sources of energy, the efficiency must increase and one way of doing it is by changing the operating fluid. Among the alternate fluids is the use of molten salts as a part of the process; either for thermal storage and later utilization for electrical production during the hours without sun or as a substitute of the operating fluid to provide higher temperatures resulting in better efficiency. The difficulty of using molten salts is the lack of physical properties in literature; such as viscosity, boiling point, vapor pressure and volumetric absorption of solar radiation, thus making the selection of a suitable salt a very difficult endeavor. As a part of the Multidisciplinary Research Initiative (MURI) of the Department of Energy in the project of High Operating Fluids, this work will focus on the optical properties of the molten salts (volumetric absorption). The objective of this Thesis is to design, build and test a device capable of measuring the light attenuation coefficient; which is directly related to volumetric absorption of solar radiation, as well as determine the attenuation coefficient of various eutectic systems for the ternary salt mixture of ZnCl2, NaCl and KCl. Based on the little existent literature, a device capable of measuring the attenuation coefficient was designed, built, validated and tested. This was done by projecting a stable beam of light simulating sun radiation through the molten salt sample and to a spectrometer with a wavelength range going from 400 nm to 1000 nm with operating temperatures going from 350oC to 600oC. This device is capable of controlling the thickness, from 1 to 60 mm, of the molten salt sample by a computer controlled linear stage with an accuracy of 0.1mm. Quartz was used as a container for the molten salts because of its high melting point and transparency. A ceramic heater was used as a heat source, which can heat up the sample to temperatures up to 1200 oC if necessary. Two validation tests for the device were done by measuring the light attenuation coefficient of clear water and extra virgin olive oil and then they were compared to the ones in literature. The eutectic systems were tested next; the results characterized the attenuation coefficient as a function of wavelength and temperature, something that no other experimental work has done before for this specific fluid. These values will help to determine an optimal operating fluid for high temperature thermal applications.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第23999号 / エネ博第435号 / 新制||エネ||82(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)教授 野平 俊之, 教授 萩原 理加, 教授 宇田 哲也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第24000号 / エネ博第436号 / 新制||エネ||82(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)教授 野平 俊之, 教授 萩原 理加, 教授 佐川 尚 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

abstract: Emission of CO2 into the atmosphere has become an increasingly concerning issue as we progress into the 21st century Flue gas from coal-burning power plants accounts for 40% of all carbon dioxide emissions. The key to successful separation and sequestration is to separate CO2 directly from flue gas (10-15% CO2, 70% N2), which can range from a few hundred to as high as 1000°C. Conventional microporous membranes (carbons/silicas/zeolites) are capable of separating CO2 from N2 at low temperatures, but cannot achieve separation above 200°C. To overcome the limitations of microporous membranes, a novel ceramic-carbonate dual-phase membrane for high temperature CO2 separation was proposed. The membrane was synthesized from porous La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-d (LSCF) supports and infiltrated with molten carbonate (Li2CO3/Na2CO3/K2CO3). The CO2 permeation mechanism involves a reaction between CO2 (gas phase) and O= (solid phase) to form CO3=, which is then transported through the molten carbonate (liquid phase) to achieve separation. The effects of membrane thickness, temperature and CO2 partial pressure were studied. Decreasing thickness from 3.0 to 0.375 mm led to higher fluxes at 900°C, ranging from 0.186 to 0.322 mL.min-1.cm-2 respectively. CO2 flux increased with temperature from 700 to 900°C. Activation energy for permeation was similar to that for oxygen ion conduction in LSCF. For partial pressures above 0.05 atm, the membrane exhibited a nearly constant flux. From these observations, it was determined that oxygen ion conductivity limits CO2 permeation and that the equilibrium oxygen vacancy concentration in LSCF is dependent on the partial pressure of CO2 in the gas phase. Finally, the dual-phase membrane was used as a membrane reactor. Separation at high temperatures can produce warm, highly concentrated streams of CO2 that could be used as a chemical feedstock for the synthesis of syngas (H2 + CO). Towards this, three different membrane reactor configurations were examined: 1) blank system, 2) LSCF catalyst and 3) 10% Ni/y-alumina catalyst. Performance increased in the order of blank system < LSCF catalyst < Ni/y-alumina catalyst. Favorable conditions for syngas production were high temperature (850°C), low sweep gas flow rate (10 mL.min-1) and high methane concentration (50%) using the Ni/y-alumina catalyst. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2011

La production de métal à partir de son oxyde est basée sur une réduction en plusieurs étapes. Un procédé à une seule étape a été récemment proposé pour la formation de Ti métal par électrolyse en chlorures fondus. Dans le procédé FFC (Fray, Farthing and Chen), le titane métallique est produit à la cathode pendant que les ions oxyde sont oxydés à une anode en graphite en dioxyde de carbone. Dans le domaine du nucléaire, ce procédé est intéressant car le sel peut être ré-utilisé sans retraitement particulier. Ce travail présente les études électrochimiques réalisées dans CaCl2-KCl et CaCl2 permettant de clarifier le mécanisme de réduction de CeO2, utilisé comme simulant des actinides. Des électrolyses sur de faibles quantités de CeO2 sont réalisées afin d'obtenir les conditions opératoires optimales. La réduction de plusieurs centaines de grammes de CeO2 est aussi discutée. / Reactive metals are currently produced from their oxide by multiple steps reduction techniques. A one step route from the oxide to the metal has been suggested for metallic titanium production by electrolysis in high temperature molten chloride salts. In the so-called FFC process, titanium oxide is electrochemically reduced at the cathode, generating O2- ions, which are converted on a graphite anode into carbon oxide or dioxide. After this process, the spent salt can in principle be reused for several batches which is particularly attractive for a nuclear application in terms of waste minimization. In this work, the electrochemical reduction process of cerium oxide (IV) is studied in CaCl2 and CaCl2-KCl melts to understand the oxide reduction mechanism. Cerium is used as a chemical analogue of actinides. Electrolysis on 10 grams of cerium oxide are made to find optimal conditions for the conversion of actinides oxides into metals. The scale-up to hundred grams of oxide is also discussed.

O espinélio MgAl2O4 é utilizado prioritariamente na indústria de refratários. Atualmente há várias técnicas de síntese, visto que não é encontrado na natureza. A técnica de sais fundidos apresenta grande potencial para otimização e redução do custo energético na produção deste óxido. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento da técnica de síntese via sais fundidos para obtenção do espinélio MgAl2O4, e a caracterização do pó produzido via diferentes técnicas. A dissertação explora as variáveis da produção do espinélio a partir de Al2O3 e MgO em KCl, e também alternando o sal para MgCl2 e o eutético KCl-MgCl2. As seguintes alterações foram testadas para verificar o resultado no pó produzido: redução da temperatura para 1150°C, aumento do MgO nos precursores em 10% e 30%, redução da granulometria da Al2O3 precursores para 0,60 μm, variação da razão sal/precursor (S/P) para 1:1 e 9:1. Foi testado o sal MgCl2 nas proporções de precursores estequiométrica, -50% de MgO e -100% de MgO. Por fim, o sal KCl-MgCl2 na razão eutética foi testado. Para caracterização do pó foram utilizadas as técnica de análise cristalográfica por difração de raios X (DRX) e pela técnica de RAMAN, granulometria por dispersão a laser (GDL), microestrutura por microscopia eletrônica por varredura (MEV) e análise de cristalitos por mircroscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). Os pós produzidos apresentaram as fases MgAl2O4, Al2O3 e MgO. A redução de temperatura reduziu a quantidade de espinélio em pequena proporção, a alteração de estequiometria dos precursores no sal KCl reduziu a quantidade de Al2O3 em um primeiro momento e também sobrou MgO na reação para um aumento maior de MgO. A redução de granulometria da Al2O3 propiciou aumento da proporção de espinélio na reação. A proporção S/P 1:1 não mostrou alteração, contudo para 9:1 houve sedimentação e um efeito de diluição/precipitação. Para o sal MgCl2, houve precipitação de MgO a partir do sal, alterando o perfil granulométrico dos pós e as fases obtidas: MgO e MgAl2O4. A redução de MgO aumentou a conversão para MgAl2O4, reduzindo também a granulometria. O sal na proporção eutética apresentou boa conversão de espinélio e pouco aumento de granulometria. / The MgAl2O4 spinel is mainly applied at the refractory industry. There are many techniques to produce that oxide, since it is not found in the nature. The molten salts technique shows potencial energy savings and cost reduction to produce spinel. This work aimed at the development of the molten salts synthesis technique to obtain the MgAl2O4 spinel, and characterization of the powder produced via different techniques. The dissertation explores the variables of production of spinel from Al2O3 and MgO in KCl, and also alternating salt to MgCl2 and KCl-MgCl2 eutectic. The following changes were tested to verify the result of the powder produced: reducing the temperature to 1150 ° C, an increase in the MgO precursor at 10% and 30% reduction in particle size of the Al2O3 precursor to 0.60 micrometres variation ratio of salt / precursor (S / P) to 1: 1 and 9: 1. MgCl2 salt was tested in the stoichiometric proportion of precursors, -50% of MgO and -100% MgO. Finally, the KCl-MgCl2 salt eutectic ratio was tested. For characterization of the powder was used the crystallographic analysis technique of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and RAMAN technique, laser scattering for particle size analisys, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and crystallite analysis by transmission electron mircroscopy (TEM). The powders produced presented the MgAl2O4 phase, Al2O3 and MgO. The reduction in temperature reduced the amount of spinel in small proportion, the stoichiometry change of the precursors in the KCl salt reduced the amount of Al2O3 at first and also left MgO in reaction to a greater increase of MgO. The reduction of the Al2O3 particle size resulted in an increase in the proportion of the spinel reaction. The ratio S/P 1: 1 showed no change, however to 9: 1 was sedimentation and dilution / precipitation effect. To MgCl2 salt, there was precipitation of MgO from the salt, changing the physical profile of the powder and the obtained phases: MgO and MgAl2O4. The reduction of MgO increased the conversion MgAl2O4, by reducing the grain size. The salt in the proportion eutectic showed good conversion spinel and little increase in particle size.

L'électrolyse en milieu oxydes fondus (MOE) peut être envisagée comme une nouvelle technologie de l’industrie sidérurgique pour la production de fer liquide sans émission de CO2. Dans ce concept, l'électrolyse est utilisée pour produire de l’oxygène gazeux et du fer liquide à des températures supérieures à 1810 K. Dans cette étude sont présentées les principales réactions électrochimiques lors de l’électrolyse en milieu fondu (MgO-Al2O3-SiO2). Une quantité importante de fer liquide a été produite lors d'électrolyses conduites pendant plusieurs heures. L'analyse MEB-EDS du dépôt a révélé un alliage de fer métallique quasi pur, uniquement contaminé par le matériau cathodique. Ce résultat traduit une sélectivité élevée du procédé électrolytique. L'étude de la réponse de l'électrolyte en fonction de la tension électrique et de la concentration de fer a révélé une limitation par la diffusion lors de l’électrolyse de bains de faibles concentrations en oxyde de fer, et à des potentiels inférieurs à 1,5 V. La demi-réaction de la cathode a été identifiée comme la réduction du fer ferreux en fer métallique. L’extrapolation des droites de Tafel sur les courbes courant-tension corrigées de la chute ohmique a conduit à des coefficients de transfert (de la réaction cathodique) proches à 0,6. L’ordre de réaction de réduction de FeII en Fe0 a été évalué autour de 1. L'analyse de la demi-réaction anodique dans les oxydes fondus à faible teneur en fer a montré que les premières espèces éctroactives sont les anions oxydes libres. Pour des tensions électriques croissantes, le transport des anions O2- libres devient limité et le transfert de charge est partiellement attribué à l’oxydation du fer ferreux. Au contraire, dans des mélanges d’oxydes fondus à concentrations élevées en fer, le transfert de charge est réalisé dans toute la gamme de tension par l'oxydation du fer ferreux. C’est seulement à haute tension, que l’oxydation des anions oxyde contribue au transfert des charges. Dans l'ensemble des compositions testées, aucune limitation du courant n’a été observée sur la réaction anodique / Molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) is an ambitious technique for the production of liquid iron by the use of renewable energies and thus lower CO2 emissions in the steel industry. In this concept, electrolysis is used to produce gaseous O2 and liquid iron metal at temperatures above 1810 K. In the experimental study presented here the key-parameters of the electrochemical reactions in a magnesio-aluminosilicate electrolyte and at the electrodes during MOE are investigated. A significant amount of liquid iron metal was produced during experiments of several hours. SEM-EDS analysis of the deposit revealed an alloy of iron metal and of the cathode material, which thereby indicates high process selectivity. Investigation of the electrolyte’s response in dependence of cell voltage and iron concentration inferred a diffusional limitation at low iron oxide concentrations at potentials below 1.5 V. The cathode half-reaction was identified as the reduction of ferrous iron to liquid iron metal. Using Tafel interpretation reaction-transfer coefficients close to 0.6 and an order of reaction around 1 were determined. The analysis of the anode half-reaction showed that in low iron bearing molten oxides, oxide anions were firstly oxidized into O2 gas. At high iron concentrations the charge transfer is conducted in the entire cell voltage range by the oxidation of ferrous iron. The participation of oxide anions in the charge transfer was only witnessed at high cell voltages. In the entire compositional range a limitation of the measured current due to the anode half reaction was not observed