Poster Session

Conversion of Propane to Propylene in a Fuel Cell

Yu Feng, PhD student in Chemical Engineering

Supervisor - Dr. Jingli Luo and Dr. Karl T. Chuang

Conversion of propane to propylene in a proton-conducting fuel cell is a process by which propane is dehydrogenated to propylene using a fuel cell. This process has the unique advantage of obtaining value-added product propylene and electricity power simultaneously. Unlike the industrial conversion of propane to propylene, the reaction of propane dehydrogenation occurring in the fuel cell is not equilibrium limited, and propane can be completely converted to propylene. In addition, compared to other hydrocarbon (e.g. methane) fuel cells, there is no green house gas CO2 or poison gas CO emission from this fuel cell with propane dehydrogenation the only reaction, and the only products being propylene and water. While development of this process clearly has economic and environmental attractiveness, there have been few studies directed to realization of the concept. The challenge has been finding suitable proton-conducting electrolytes and compatible electrodes operating at temperatures below 800oC. Our fuel cell group at the University of Alberta made a breakthrough in this process and proved the feasibility of conversion of propane to propylene in a proton-conducting fuel cell. Good fuel cell performance and high selective propylene were achieved using Y-doped BeCeO3 as electrolyte and developing compatible electrodes.