Optimization of the Interconnect Ribs for a Cathode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

Energies

Wei Kong¹  Xiang Gao¹  Shixue Liu²  Shichuan Su¹ 

[1] School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu 212003, China; E-Mails:;INAMORI Frontier Research Center, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; E-Mail:

关键词: solid oxide fuel cell;    cathode-supported;    interconnect rib;    contact resistance;    design optimization;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en7010295

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

A comprehensive mathematical model of the performance of the cathode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with syngas fuel is presented. The model couples the intricate interdependency between the ionic conduction, electronic conduction, gas transport, the electrochemical reaction processes in the functional layers and on the electrode/electrolyte interfaces, methane steam reforming (MSR) and the water gas shift reaction (WGSR). The validity of the mathematical model is demonstrated by the excellent agreement between the numerical and experimental I-V curves. The effect of anode rib width and cathode rib width on gas diffusion and cell performance is examined. The results show conclusively that the cell performance is strongly influenced by the rib width. Furthermore, the anode optimal rib width is smaller than that for cathode, which is contrary to anode-supported SOFC. Finally, the formulae for the anode and cathode optimal rib width are given, which provide an easy to use guidance for the broad SOFC engineering community.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.