MicroscaleModeling of an Anode-Supported Planar SolidOxide Fuel Cell

Penyarat Chinda (1) , Wishsanuruk Wechsatol (1) , Somchai Chanchaona (1) , Pascal Brault (2)

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering
2 GREMI - Groupe de recherches sur l'énergétique des milieux ionisés

A microscale model of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) involving the mass transfer together with the electrochemical reaction, the transportation of electrons and ions through the respective spherical shaped electron conducting and ion conducting particles inside the electrodes was mathematically developed. Couples of useful parameters were introduced in order to represent the characteristics of the cell. The predicted cell performance was showed according to various operating and design conditions. The effects of microscale electrode geometry on the cell performance were also taken into account. Parametric study ccording to the volumetric fraction of ionic and electronic conducting particles was conducted in order to examine the effects of operating conditions on the cell overpotentials. The study results substantiate the fact that SOFC overpotential could be effectively decreased by increasing the operating temperature as well as operating pressure. This present study reveals the working mechanisms of SOFC at the microscale level, while demonstrating the use of microscale relations to enhance the SOFC performance. The accuracy of the presented model was validated by comparing with already existing experimental results from the available literatures.

Keywords: Electrochemical Reaction; Mass Transfer; Microscale Geometry; Microscale Model; Parametric Study; Solid Oxide Fuel Cells; Spherical Shaped Particles

Domains: Plasmas

Penyarat Chinda, Wishsanuruk Wechsatol, Somchai Chanchaona, Pascal Brault. MicroscaleModeling of an Anode-Supported Planar SolidOxide Fuel Cell. Fuel Cells, 2011, 11, pp.184-199. ⟨10.1002/fuce.201000121⟩. ⟨hal-00586228⟩