Study on the Operating Characteristics of Cell Electrodes in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Through the Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation Method

Abstract

This study presents a two-dimensional model for planar anode supported cells in a solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The model is implemented with planar 6 cm × 6 cm anode supported cells (with an active area of 5 cm × 5 cm). The performance characteristics within each cell of the SOFC (cathode, anode, and electrolyte layer) are determined via the numerical simulation method. This method is based on the fundamental conservation laws of continuity, momentum, energy, and mass. The effects of the cathode, anode, and electrolyte layer thickness are investigated at different temperatures. The results show the behavior of the potential, temperature field, and current distributions in the cell when certain parameters (anode thickness, cathode thickness, electrolyte thickness, and temperature in the channels) are varied. The effects of varying the fuel inlet and air inlet conditions are also presented and discussed.