Modeling of Reversible Solid Oxide Cell Stacks with an Open-Source Library

Abstract

This study describes a homogenized model of reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) stacks. The model enables steady-state simulations of rSOC stacks in both fuel cell and electrolyzer modes to be conducted. It accounts for multi-component species diffusion, and heat and mass transfer, including thermal radiation and electrochemical reactions. An open-source library, OpenFOAM, provides a platform for the model’s implementation. Numerical simulations were performed using an in-house-designed rSOC stack. A previously-developed, one-dimensional Simulink model was also applied to the stack. Both models predict similar output voltages, within 2% difference, under the same operating conditions. Temperature variations were also compared; the stack model’s results were closer to experimental measurements than the Simulink model. The new model was able to perform faster simulations (less than 2 hours) for the prescribed stacks.