Electrochemical Characterization and Modelling of Anode and Electrolyte Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) have emerged as an attractive alternative for efficient cogeneration of electricity and heat with reduced emissions during operation. High working temperatures result in optimized kinetics and higher efficiencies in comparison to other fuel cell types. Among different designs, Anode Supported Cells (ASCs) and Electrolyte Supported Cells are currently the most promising configurations on a commercial scale. This work analyses these two designs with a focus on electrochemical features as the main performance marker. The study was carried out using both theoretical and experimental approaches on planar single cells. A detailed test campaign at different operating conditions in terms of temperature, fuel and oxidant composition was designed. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and current-voltage (I-V) measurements were used to identify the contributions of different cell components. The electrochemical kinetics derived from the individual resistance terms was implemented in a 2D simulation tool (SIMFC-SIMulation of Fuel Cells) to obtain the detailed global cell behaviour and to understand local occurring mechanisms on anodic and cathodic cell planes. The model was validated for an anode supported cell consisting of Ni-YSZ/YSZ/LSCF-CGO and an electrolyte supported cell consisting of Ni-CGO/YSZ/LSCF-CGO, showing the possibility to tune the parameters depending on analysed cells.

Multiscale modelling potentialities for solid oxide fuel cell performance and degradation analysis

“…SIMFC is a physically based model which evaluates the cell behaviour solving conservation equations in terms of material, energy and momentum balances as described in authors' previous studies. 43,45 Its core consists of ad hoc electrochemical kinetics to compute the cell voltage derived from Nernst, Ohm and Butler–Volmer equations (eqn (1)), described in detail elsewhere. 44–46 …”

“…43,45 Its core consists of ad hoc electrochemical kinetics to compute the cell voltage derived from Nernst, Ohm and Butler–Volmer equations (eqn (1)), described in detail elsewhere. 44–46 …”

Test and Modelling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Durability: A Focus on Interconnect Role on Global Degradation

“…In both designs, a thin CGO barrier layer is usually introduced between the oxygen electrode and electrolyte, guaranteeing the cell chemical stability. In view of aging conditions for the interconnects described in Section 2, both designs were simulated applying the structural features and kinetics parameters reported in Tables 1 and 2, respectively (refer to authors' previous work for the kinetics validation of each configuration [38]). [38].…”

“…In view of aging conditions for the interconnects described in Section 2, both designs were simulated applying the structural features and kinetics parameters reported in Tables 1 and 2, respectively (refer to authors' previous work for the kinetics validation of each configuration [38]). [38].…”

Experimental Investigation on Potential Effect of Cell Shape and Size on the Residual Stress in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

“…A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a high-efficient electrochemical device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas into electrical energy. In various configurations and designs, anode-supported planar SOFCs are widely used due to their higher power density and lower manufacturing cost (Ettler et al, 2010;Fan et al, 2014;Du et al, 2018;Shin et al, 2020;Padinjarethil et al, 2021).…”