Abstract

The solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is recognized as a promising method for hydrogen production, attributed to its high efficiency. Steam is split into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis at high temperatures. Electrolysis is inherently an endothermic process; however, it can be transformed into an exothermic process depending on the operating voltage. During the start-up process, the heat reaction is observed to change from endothermic to exothermic around a thermoneutral voltage. In this study, a dynamic model of the solid oxide electrolyzer system was developed, and the behavior of the system during the start-up process was analyzed. A dynamic model of the stack was developed to investigate the behavior of cell temperature and current density. Furthermore, 1D models of heat exchangers and 0D models of blowers were developed and verified against experimental results. These components were systematically organized and simulated. The temperatures of the stack and components during a schedule-based start-up process were investigated. Additionally, the behavior during the load change process, shifting from an endothermic reaction to an exothermic reaction, was examined. It was found that to reach an operating condition above the thermoneutral voltage, additional heat is required for the stack due to its endothermic reaction. The effect of air on the stack was also found to be dependent on the operating voltage of the stack.

Graphical Abstract Figure
Graphical Abstract Figure
Close modal

References

1.
Ni
,
M.
,
Leung
,
M.
, and
Leung
,
D.
,
2008
, “
Technological Development of Hydrogen Production by Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC)
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
,
33
(
9
), pp.
2337
2354
.
2.
Tetteh
,
D. A.
, and
Salehi
,
S.
,
2023
, “
The Blue Hydrogen Economy: A Promising Option for the Near-to-Mid-Term Energy Transition
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
145
(
4
), p.
042701
.
3.
Squadrito
,
G.
,
Maggio
,
G.
, and
Nicita
,
A.
,
2023
, “
The Green Hydrogen Revolution
,”
Renew. Energy
,
216
, p.
119041
.
4.
Koytsoumpa
,
E. I.
,
Bergins
,
C.
,
Buddenberg
,
T.
,
Wu
,
S.
,
Sigurbjörnsson
,
Ó.
,
Tran
,
K. C.
, and
Kakaras
,
E.
,
2016
, “
The Challenge of Energy Storage in Europe: Focus on Power to Fuel
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
138
(
4
), p.
042002
.
5.
Klerke
,
A.
,
Christensen
,
C. H.
,
Nørskov
,
J. K.
, and
Vegge
,
T.
,
2008
, “
Ammonia for Hydrogen Storage: Challenges and Opportunities
,”
J. Mater. Chem.
,
18
(
20
), p.
2304
.
6.
Kim
,
B.
, and
Lee
,
Y. D.
,
2024
, “
Correlating the Influence of the Purity of Hydrogen Produced by a Surplus Power on the Production of Green Ammonia
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
146
(
1
), p.
012701
.
7.
Vellini
,
M.
, and
Tonziello
,
J.
,
2010
, “
Hydrogen Use in an Urban District: Energy and Environmental Comparisons
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
132
(
4
), p.
042601
.
8.
Jensen
,
S. H.
,
Larsen
,
P. H.
, and
Mogensen
,
M.
,
2007
, “
Hydrogen and Synthetic Fuel Production From Renewable Energy Sources
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
,
32
(
15
), pp.
3253
3257
.
9.
Harvego
,
E. A.
,
McKellar
,
M. G.
,
Sohal
,
M. S.
,
O’Brien
,
J. E.
, and
Herring
,
J. S.
,
2010
, “
System Evaluation and Economic Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor Powered High-Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen-Production Plant
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
132
(
2
), p.
021005
.
10.
Zhao
,
Y.
,
Xue
,
H.
,
Jin
,
X.
,
Xiong
,
B.
,
Liu
,
R.
,
Peng
,
Y.
,
Jiang
,
L.
, and
Tian
,
G.
,
2021
, “
System Level Heat Integration and Efficiency Analysis of Hydrogen Production Process Based on Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells
,”
Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
,
46
(
77
), pp.
38163
38174
.
11.
Lin
,
M.
, and
Haussener
,
S.
,
2017
, “
Techno-Economic Modeling and Optimization of Solar-Driven High-Temperature Electrolysis Systems
,”
Sol. Energy
,
155
, pp.
1389
1402
.
12.
Schiller
,
G.
,
Lang
,
M.
,
Szabo
,
P.
,
Monnerie
,
N.
,
von Storch
,
H.
,
Reinhold
,
J.
, and
Sundarraj
,
P.
,
2019
, “
Solar Heat Integrated Solid Oxide Steam Electrolysis for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Production
,”
J. Power Sources
,
416
, pp.
72
78
.
13.
Giap
,
V.-T.
,
Kang
,
S.
, and
Ahn
,
K. Y.
,
2019
, “
High-Efficient Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Coupled With Waste Steam for Distributed Electrical Energy Storage System
,”
Renew. Energy
,
144
, pp.
129
138
.
14.
Udagawa
,
J.
,
Aguiar
,
P.
, and
Brandon
,
N. P.
,
2008
, “
Hydrogen Production Through Steam Electrolysis: Model-Based Dynamic Behaviour of a Cathode-Supported Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell
,”
J. Power Sources
,
180
(
1
), pp.
46
55
.
15.
Wang
,
Y.
,
Banerjee
,
A.
, and
Deutschmann
,
O.
,
2019
, “
Dynamic Behavior and Control Strategy Study of CO2/H2O Co-electrolysis in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells
,”
J. Power Sources
,
412
, pp.
255
264
.
16.
Jiang
,
W.
,
Fang
,
R.
,
Dougal
,
R. A.
, and
Khan
,
J. A.
,
2008
, “
Thermoelectric Model of a Tubular SOFC for Dynamic Simulation
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
130
(
2
), p.
022601
.
17.
Hall
,
D. J.
, and
Colclaser
,
R. G.
,
1999
, “
Transient Modeling and Simulation of a Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
,”
IEEE Trans. Energy Convers.
,
14
(
3
), pp.
749
753
.
18.
Ota
,
T.
,
Koyama
,
M.
,
Wen
,
C.-J.
,
Yamada
,
K.
, and
Takahashi
,
H.
,
2003
, “
Object-Based Modeling of SOFC System: Dynamic Behavior of Micro-Tube SOFC
,”
J. Power Sources
,
118
(
1–2
), pp.
430
439
.
19.
Aguiar
,
P.
,
Adjiman
,
C. S.
, and
Brandon
,
N. P.
,
2004
, “
Anode-Supported Intermediate Temperature Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. I: Model-Based Steady-State Performance
,”
J. Power Sources
,
138
(
1–2
), pp.
120
136
.
20.
Aguiar
,
P.
,
Adjiman
,
C. S.
, and
Brandon
,
N. P.
,
2005
, “
Anode-Supported Intermediate-Temperature Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: II. Model-Based Dynamic Performance and Control
,”
J. Power Sources
,
147
(
1–2
), pp.
136
147
.
21.
Xue
,
X.
,
Tang
,
J.
,
Sammes
,
N.
, and
Du
,
Y.
,
2005
, “
Dynamic Modeling of Single Tubular SOFC Combining Heat/Mass Transfer and Electrochemical Reaction Effects
,”
J. Power Sources
,
142
(
1–2
), pp.
211
222
.
22.
Xi
,
H.
,
Sun
,
J.
, and
Tsourapas
,
V.
,
2007
, “
A Control Oriented Low Order Dynamic Model for Planar SOFC Using Minimum Gibbs Free Energy Method
,”
J. Power Sources
,
165
(
1
), pp.
253
266
.
23.
Kang
,
Y.-W.
,
Li
,
J.
,
Cao
,
G.-Y.
,
Tu
,
H.-Y.
,
Li
,
J.
, and
Yang
,
J.
,
2009
, “
A Reduced 1d Dynamic Model of a Planar Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for System Research
,”
J. Power Sources
,
188
(
1
), pp.
170
176
.
24.
Lee
,
D.
,
Quach
,
T.-Q.
,
Israel
,
T. P.
,
Ahn
,
K. Y.
,
Bae
,
Y.
, and
Kim
,
Y. S.
,
2022
, “
Analysis of Start-Up Behavior Based on the Dynamic Simulation of an SOFC–Engine Hybrid System
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
,
272
, p.
116384
.
You do not currently have access to this content.