Abstract
This work focuses on a steady-state model developed for an integrated planar solid oxide fuel cell (IP-SOFC) bundle. In this geometry, several single IP-SOFCs are deposited on a tube and electrically connected in series through interconnections. Then, several tubes are coupled to one another to form a full-sized bundle. A previously-developed and validated electrochemical model is the basis for the development of the tube model, taking into account in detail the presence of active cells, interconnections and dead areas. Mass and energy balance equations are written for the IP-SOFC tube, in the classical form adopted for chemical reactors. Based on the single tube model, a bundle model is developed. Model validation is presented based on single tube current-voltage (I-V) experimental data obtained in a wide range of experimental conditions, i.e., at different temperatures and for different H2/CO/CO2/CH4/H2O/N2 mixtures as the fuel feedstock. The error of the simulation results versus I-V experimental data is less than 1% in most cases, and it grows to a value of 8% only in one case, which is discussed in detail. Finally, we report model predictions of the current density distribution and temperature distribution in a bundle, the latter being a key aspect in view of the mechanical integrity of the IP-SOFC structure.
Highlights
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are electrochemical reactors that directly convert the energy of the reactants into electrical energy, avoiding the intermediate thermodynamic cycles that characterise the methods traditionally employed for energy conversion
A steady-state model is presented for the simulation of the integrated planar solid oxide fuel cell (IP-SOFC) tube and bundle currently developed at Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd
The comparison between simulation results and experimental data validates the choice of expressing the anodic exchange current density io,a through an equation where io,a is directly proportional to both pH and pH2O
Summary
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are electrochemical reactors that directly convert the energy of the reactants into electrical energy, avoiding the intermediate thermodynamic cycles that characterise the methods traditionally employed for energy conversion. The high operating temperature provides high quality waste heat to recover in cogeneration and bottoming cycles, but places restrictions on the materials that can be used in both the fuel cell and the balance of the plant. To overcome this problem, intermediate temperature SOFCs (IT-SOFCs) have been proposed, operating at 550–800 ̋C. Intermediate temperature SOFCs (IT-SOFCs) have been proposed, operating at 550–800 ̋C These are considered for smaller scale applications, where integration with a heat engine is not appropriate. A complete review of both HT-SOFC and IT-SOFC features is reported in [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
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