A Novel Solid Oxide Electrochemical Oxygen Pump for Oxygen Therapy

Abstract

A solid oxide electrochemical oxygen pump was developed in tubular geometry with YSZ electrolyte and LSCF/CGO symmetrical air electrodes. The cells were manufactured based on green symmetrical porous YSZ electrode backbones cast on the green YSZ electrolyte tape, rolled into tubular geometry, co-sintered and impregnated with functional materials. The prepared cell had a thin 16 μm-electrolyte and supporting 76 μm-symmetric electrodes. At 700 °C, 2.8 A current (0.8 A cm−2) was obtained under 0.5 V in the single tubular cell infiltrated with 30% CGO and 45% LSCF. A four cell bundle produced theoretical 1.82 l hr−1 O2 with a power consumption of 2.18 W at 700 °C. Excellent stability of the cells was achieved during severe current and thermal cycling tests, indicating the successful fabrication of the tubular cells using the tape co-casting method.