Monolithic flat tubular types of solid oxide fuel cells with integrated electrode and gas channels. (12th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Sungtae; Sammes, Nigel Mark; Song, Ki-Hun; Kim, Taewook; Chung, Jong-Shik
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 42:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 1154
• Page End: 1160
• Publication Date: 2017-01-12
• Subjects: Solid oxide fuel cell -- Flat-tubular -- All-ceramic stack -- Stack design; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.08.212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: A new monolithic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) design stacked with flatten tubes of unit cells without using metallic interconnector plate is introduced and evaluated in this study. The anode support is manufactured in a flat tubular shape with fuel channel inside and air gas channel on the cathode surface. This design allows all-ceramic stack to provide flow channels and electrical connection between unit cells without needing metal plates. This structure not only greatly reduces the production cost of SOFC stack, but also fundamentally avoids chromium poisoning originated from a metal plate, thereby improving stack stability. The fuel channel was created in the extrusion process by using the outlet shape of mold. The air channel was created by grinding the surface of pre-sintered support. The anode functional layer and electrolyte were dip-coated on the support. The cathode layer and ceramic interconnector were then spray coated. The maximum power density and total resistance of unit cell with an active area of 30 cm 2 at 800 °C were 498 mW/cm 2 and 0.67 Ωcm 2, respectively. A 5-cell stack was assembled with ceramic components only without metal plates. Its maximum power output at 750 °C was 46 W with degradation rate of 0.69%/kh during severe operation condition for more than 1000 h, proving that such all-ceramic stack is a strong candidate as novel SOFC stack design. Highlights: New design of all ceramic monolithic SOFC stack is proposed with flat-tubular cell. Two layers of thin ceramic interconnectors are developed and applied. The 5-cell stack exhibits a degradation rate of 0.69%/kh at 750 °C.