Development of an In Situ Surface Deformation and Temperature Measurement Technique for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Button Cell

Abstract

A novel experimental technique is developed to measure the in situ surface deformation and temperature of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode surface along with the cell electrochemical performance. The experimental setup consists of a NexTech Probostat™ SOFC button cell test apparatus integrated with a Sagnac interferometric optical method and an infrared sensor for in situ surface deformation and temperature measurements, respectively. The button cell is fed with hydrogen or simulated coal syngas under SOFC operating conditions. The surface deformation is measured over time to estimate the anode structural degradation. The cell surface transient temperature is also monitored with different applied current densities under hydrogen and simulated coal syngas. The experimental results are useful to validate and develop SOFC structural durability and electrochemical models.

Infrared Spectroscopy Techniques in the Characterization of SOFC Functional Ceramics

“…It is very difficult to apply in situ spectroscopy techniques to an operating SOFC anode (Atkinson et al, 2004). Recently research groups (Liu et al, 2002;Guo et al, 2010) presented their methodologies on the possible ways to apply the infrared emission spectroscopy to characterize working SOFC anodes.…”

“…Guo and co-workers (Guo et al, 2010) worked recently developing a novel experimental technique to measure in situ surface deformation and temperature on the anode surface of a SOFC button cell, along with cell electrochemical performance under operating conditions. An adaptation of a SOFC button cell test apparatus was integrated with a Sagnac interferometric optical setup and IR thermometer.…”

“…The surface deformation measurement sensitivity is half-wavelength and is immune to temperature fluctuation and environmental vibration. The experimental data can be used for the validation and further development of SOFC structural and electrochemical modeling analyses (Guo et al, 2010).…”

“…Infrared spectroscopy techniques have being used for the characterization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). FTIR is utilized to identify the structure of the SOFC electrode and electrolyte surface (Resini et al, 2009;Guo et al, 2010). Liu and co-workers (Liu et al, 2002) were pioneers in the in situ surface characterization by FTIR under SOFC operating conditions.…”

Blister defect formation within partially stabilized zirconia film during constrained sintering

“…Many technical difficulties may be encountered during sintering of these layers. In anode supported fuel cell, anode and electrolyte are co-sintered with the potential result of warpage if sintering is not well controlled [1,2]. In contrary, in substrate supported fuel cell, warpage is not possible as the substrate is usually thick and pre-sintered.…”