In-situ monitoring of temperature distribution in operating solid oxide fuel cell cathode using proprietary sensory techniques versus commercial thermocouples

In-situ temperature monitoring directly from cathode surface of an operating solid oxide fuel cell

“…Thus, it is critically important to increase the nature friendly technologies with increased efficiency to minimize the negative impact of fossil fuels when they are used as energy sources [1], [2]. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) as an energy conversion device is considered as promising technology for electricity generation due to its high conversion efficiency (50% to 75% in combined cycles) and important environmental benefits [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. This mainly comes from the direct conversion of chemical fuels to electrical energy, fuel flexibility and high operation temperature of SOFCs.…”

“…Among various factors affecting the premature degradation of SOFCs, thermal cycling at high temperatures (usually in a range from 600 °C to 900 °C) and uneven temperature distribution are two dominant factors [14], [15]. Severe mechanical failures such as formation and propagation of cracks and failures in gas sealing are typical temperature-driven failures at cell level, while failures of interconnect sealing is one of the stack level problems aggravated by uneven temperature distribution [4], [5]. Despite the aforementioned problems, some uniquely meritorious characteristics of SOFC such as fuel flexibility, high energy conversion efficiency, and liberation from the expensive catalyst at the anode, are inherited from the high operating temperature.…”

“…Nevertheless, it is noted that the system needs more improvement in terms of its instrumentation and the obtained spatial resolution which is related to the proximity of the measurement location. Due to the requirement of the SOFC's gas-tight closed system, it is difficult for IR to access the active zone for better detection [7], [4]. Similar accessibility problems arise for Raman Spectroscopy with the addition of its inadequate performance at high temperature [4].…”

“…Due to the requirement of the SOFC's gas-tight closed system, it is difficult for IR to access the active zone for better detection [7], [4]. Similar accessibility problems arise for Raman Spectroscopy with the addition of its inadequate performance at high temperature [4]. As it is important to obtain high spatial and temporal characteristics to reach a more realistic measurement, which is related to the time dependent response from the sensing thermocouple thermometry appears to be the most widely used technology [5], [19].…”

Spring Based Connection of External Wires to a Thin Film Temperature Sensor Integrated Inside a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

“…The temporal resolution is appreciably high with the thin film structured TCs from the reduced thermal inertia of the layers, which translates to providing faster signal response compared to conventional TCs 24 . Additionally, the spatial resolution is also higher due to direct contact between sensing system and the location that the temperature to be measured 25 . The persisting challenge is to ensure that, as this is still fundamentally an analogue electrical method, the external wiring and connections, which are critical for the signal acquisition, are made reliable, conductive and robust.…”