Electrochemical Simulation of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Detailed MicrostructuralModeling

Antonio, Bertei; Mertens, Josef; Nicolella, Cristiano

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2014.08.120

Journal Article

FZJ-2013-06221

Electrochemical Simulation of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Detailed MicrostructuralModeling

Antonio, B. (Corresponding author) ; Mertens, J.FZJ* ; Nicolella, C.

2014
Elsevier New York, NY [u.a.]

Electrochimica acta 146, 151-163 (2014) [10.1016/j.electacta.2014.08.120]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2014.08.120

Abstract: Abstract: A quasi-two-dimensional physically-based model for the description of transport andreaction in planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is presented in this study. Electrochemistry andtransport phenomena in the cell are locally described in 2D using mass conservation equations andwell-established global electro-kinetics, coupled with the 1D representation of gas channels in both coflowand counter-flow configurations. The key feature of the model consists in the numericalreconstruction, through packing algorithms, of the three-dimensional microstructure of each porouslayer for an accurate evaluation of the effective properties. Coupling of a detailed microstructuralmodeling into the cell-level electrochemical model allows the prediction of the polarization behaviorfrom the knowledge of operating conditions and powder characteristics, thus eliminating the need forempirical correlations and adjusted parameters, which is typically the weak point of existing cell-levelmodels. The framework is used for the simulation of a short stack of anode-supported cells with LSMbasedcathode and 1.5mm thick anode support, developed and tested by Forschungszentrum Jülich.The effective properties of each layer are calculated and compared with available experimental data. Agood agreement is also reached when comparing simulated and experimental polarization curvesunder different operating conditions without fitting any parameter. Simulations show that at 800°C theactivation resistance in the cathode functional layer is the main contribution to the cell overpotential.In addition, the model suggests that gas concentration effects at the anode play an important role onthe global electrochemical response. The study shows that quantitative predictions can be obtainedusing this integrated approach, making it an attractive tool to assist the SOFC development.

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