Numerical study on improved mass and heat transfer performance in a solid oxide electrolysis cell with sine wave flow field

Abstract

In this paper, the periodic variation of sine wave is used to promote the transport and diffusion process of reactive gases; and the relationship between the performance of a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and the mass and heat transfer capabilities of its flow field is thoroughly examined. The impact of variations in the amplitude and frequency of the sine wave on the SOEC's electrolysis efficiency, its mass and heat transfer properties, and fluid flow dynamics are explored. The results indicate that longitudinal flow velocity of the gas in the sine wave flow channel is increased by 26.96–80.76% at a current density of 10000 A/m2, and this kind of flow channel exhibits superior gas transport performance. Moreover, the temperature-uniformity index and the maximum thermal stress of the positive-electrolyte-negative (PEN) structure are decreases by 18.93–22.67% and 20%, respectively. It indicates that this configuration is capable of reducing thermal stress and enhancing the uniformity of temperature distribution at high current-densities. Increasing the amplitude and frequency improves the comprehensive performance of the flow field. More specifically, frequency has a greater impact on flow field performance than amplitude.