A new trend in recent years is to reduce the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating temperature to an intermediate range by employing either a thin electrolyte, or new materials for the electrolyte and electrodes. In this paper, a numerical investigation is presented with focus on modeling and analysis of transport processes in planar intermediate temperature (IT, between 600 and 800°C⁠) SOFCs. Various transport phenomena occurring in an anode duct of an ITSOFC have been analyzed by a fully three-dimensional calculation method. In addition, a general model to evaluate the stack performance has been developed for the purpose of optimal design and/or configuration based on specified electrical power or fuel supply rate.

Issue Section:
Fuel Cells
Keywords:
solid oxide fuel cells, electrolytes, anodes, pipe flow, flow through porous media, convection, diffusion
Topics:
Anodes, Ducts, Electrochemical reactions, Flow (Dynamics), Fuel cells, Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells, Solid oxide fuel cells, Temperature, Water, Fuels, Transport processes, Heat, Electrolytes
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Copyright © 2005
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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