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SOFC Cell Design Optimization Using the Finite Element Method Based CFD Approach

Andersson, Martin LU ; Yuan, Jinliang LU and Sundén, Bengt LU (2014) In Fuel Cells 14(2). p.177-188
Abstract
Fuel cells are hopeful for future energy systems, because they are energy efficient and able to use renewable fuels. A coupled computational fluid dynamics approach based on the finite element method, in three-dimensions, is used to illustrate a planar intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell. Governing equations for momentum, gas-phase species, heat, electron and ion transport are implemented and coupled to kinetics describing electrochemical reactions. Three different cell designs are compared in a parametric study. The importance of the cathode support layer is revealed, because this layer significantly decreases the oxygen gas-phase resistance within the cathode (at positions under the interconnect ribs) in the direction normal... (More)
Fuel cells are hopeful for future energy systems, because they are energy efficient and able to use renewable fuels. A coupled computational fluid dynamics approach based on the finite element method, in three-dimensions, is used to illustrate a planar intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell. Governing equations for momentum, gas-phase species, heat, electron and ion transport are implemented and coupled to kinetics describing electrochemical reactions. Three different cell designs are compared in a parametric study. The importance of the cathode support layer is revealed, because this layer significantly decreases the oxygen gas-phase resistance within the cathode (at positions under the interconnect ribs) in the direction normal to the cathode/electrolyte interface as well as the electron resistance inside the cathode (at positions under the air channel) in the same direction. It is concluded that wider and thinner gas channels enable a more compact design with only a slightly decreased cell current density (per cross-sectional electrode/electrolyte interface area), i.e. a considerably increased volumetric cell current can be achieved. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Fuel Cells
volume
14
issue
2
pages
177 - 188
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000334047200005
  • scopus:84898469744
ISSN
1615-6854
DOI
10.1002/fuce.201300160
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f332266b-2090-4e05-b98b-a981da117b8d (old id 4433562)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:05:27
date last changed
2022-04-20 08:57:00
@article{f332266b-2090-4e05-b98b-a981da117b8d,
  abstract     = {{Fuel cells are hopeful for future energy systems, because they are energy efficient and able to use renewable fuels. A coupled computational fluid dynamics approach based on the finite element method, in three-dimensions, is used to illustrate a planar intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell. Governing equations for momentum, gas-phase species, heat, electron and ion transport are implemented and coupled to kinetics describing electrochemical reactions. Three different cell designs are compared in a parametric study. The importance of the cathode support layer is revealed, because this layer significantly decreases the oxygen gas-phase resistance within the cathode (at positions under the interconnect ribs) in the direction normal to the cathode/electrolyte interface as well as the electron resistance inside the cathode (at positions under the air channel) in the same direction. It is concluded that wider and thinner gas channels enable a more compact design with only a slightly decreased cell current density (per cross-sectional electrode/electrolyte interface area), i.e. a considerably increased volumetric cell current can be achieved.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Martin and Yuan, Jinliang and Sundén, Bengt}},
  issn         = {{1615-6854}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{177--188}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Fuel Cells}},
  title        = {{SOFC Cell Design Optimization Using the Finite Element Method Based CFD Approach}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201300160}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/fuce.201300160}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}