A fully automated tool for constructing multiphysics model and performing simulations of kW-scale solid oxide cell stacks

Abstract

Multiphysics simulations of solid oxide cell (SOC) require extensive experience and can be labor intensive. This paper reports the first successful implementation of automated multiphysics simulation process for industrial-scale planar SOC stacks. The automation is realized through Python based Ansys SpaceClaim scripting for building geometric model, Python based Ansys Workbench Meshing scripting for setting numerical grids, and Scheme based Ansys Fluent TUI commands for performing multiphysics simulations. The model building process allows for customized dimensions of all stack components and the corresponding edge grid counts. The automation of simulations streamlines all the computational steps in multiphysics modeling. The multiphysics model is shown to agree well with the experimental data. The automated tool is illustrated in a parametric analysis of SOC operations, illuminating the influences of size, shape and thermal boundary on the stack performance. The automation makes the simulations simple and efficient, invaluable for the SOC design and operation analysis.