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A comprehensive three-dimensional modeling of an internal reforming planar solid oxide fuel cell with different interconnect designs

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Abstract

Development of low-emission or zero-emission power generation systems is one of the most important subjects humanity is dealing with. Among different under development technologies and energy systems, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an efficient and low-emission energy conversion device that is passing its research and development career. The current study aims to investigate a hydrocarbon fueled anode-supported planar-type SOFC due to simpler geometry, higher power density, and low overpotentials. In this study, electric performance of a SOFC with different interconnect designs under different operating conditions, such as operating voltage, channel inlet temperature, pre-reforming rate of methane, and inlet fuel and air velocity, has been investigated by use of a three-dimensional model considering complicated systems of equations: species mass conservation, first law of thermodynamics, conservation of momentum, and non-linear electrochemical models including multi-specious diffusion. It has been concluded that at a given voltage, inlet temperature, inlet air and fuel velocity, and pre-reforming rate, wider gas channels help to more uniform distribution and better penetration of reactant gases. Therefore, considering low-concentration polarization as an object, narrow ribs are preferred over wide ribs. By increasing the rate of the electrochemical reaction, the current and power density and subsequently the temperature difference increase but the fuel consumption in all cases has almost a decreasing trend. Also, it has been found that increasing inlet air velocity has little effect on current and power density but because of more cooling effect, it reduces the temperature difference and fuel consumption coefficient. On the other hand, increasing the inlet temperature has no meaningful effect on the temperature difference along the channels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

    Hanieh Hesami, Mehdi Borji & Javad Rezapour

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  1. Hanieh Hesami
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  2. Mehdi Borji
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  3. Javad Rezapour
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Correspondence to Mehdi Borji.

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Hesami, H., Borji, M. & Rezapour, J. A comprehensive three-dimensional modeling of an internal reforming planar solid oxide fuel cell with different interconnect designs. J Solid State Electrochem 25, 2639–2664 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-05030-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-05030-9

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