Mathematical Multi-physics Modeling and Simulation of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Unit for Thermo-Mechanical Stress Analyses

Abstract

We use a mathematical model of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) unit for stress analyses. The model comprises a thermo-electrochemical-chemical performance model that calculates the temperature field in the solid part which is then used as input for the thermo-mechanical stress model. The level of detail allow system analyses with computational efficiency. Displacement is used as primary variable for stress calculations and thermo-mechanical failure probabilities. The operation envelope of the SOFC unit is defined through design and operational constraints. The applied multi-physics approach combines the disciplines of process design, material science as well as control engineering, and also emphasises the importance of using advanced mathematical modeling and simulation techniques to address problems of practical relevance.