Electrolysis Operating Mode for Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Reversible solid oxide fuel cells (RSOFCs) can operate efficiently in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes. The RSOFC has been considered for generation of electrical power from a variety of fuels and production of chemicals such as hydrogen from steam when coupled with an energy source. The RSOFC is technologically derived from the SOFC, therefore, when the cell is operated in electrolysis mode (referred to as solid oxide electrolysis cell or SOEC mode), it is critical that electrode performance is reversible and system design is configured for efficient operation in both SOEC and SOFC modes. This paper discusses certain aspects of electrode reversibility in SOEC mode for planar RSOFCs and presents a conceptual system design for electrolysis operation.