Development of Reversible SOFC's for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) can be designed for both power generation (fuel cell) and hydrogen production (solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC)). In a reversible SOFC both functions are done in the same cell. One possible design suitable for this purpose is the metal-supported tubular SOFC (MTSOFC) under development at Worldwide Energy, Inc. (WE) in cooperation with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The feasibility of using the SOFC standard materials set for a reversible SOFC is being experimentally investigated at ORNL and modeled at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Fluent Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of the SOEC has been initiated. This is the first known attempt to model a MTSOFC design. Results to-date indicate that parameters such as permeability of the porous metal support tube and steam concentration are important for both fuel cell and electrolyser mode. Current distribution is also a critical design co nsideration.