Integrated Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: Steady-State Model of a Bundle and Validation through Single Tube Experimental Data

Energies

Paola Costamagna²  Simone Grosso²  Rowland Travis¹  Loredana Magistri³ 

[1] Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Limited, SinA-7, PO Box 31, Derby DE24 8BJ, UK;Thermochemical Power Group (TPG)-Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), Polytechnic School, University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, Genoa 16145, Italy;Thermochemical Power Group (TPG)–Department of Mechanics, Energetics, Management and Transportation (DIME), Polytechnic School, University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, Genoa 16145, Italy;

关键词: integrated planar solid oxide fuel cell (IP-SOFC);    electrochemical reaction;    heat and mass transport;    modelling;    model validation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en81112364

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.