Electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cell: Experimental study and calibrated model. (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yahya, Abir; Ferrero, Domenico; Dhahri, Hacen; Leone, Pierluigi; Slimi, Khalifa; Santarelli, Massimo
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 142(2018)
• Page Start: 932
• Page End: 943
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Experimental study -- Fitting process -- SOFC electrochemical performance -- Current-voltage characteristics -- Exchange current density -- Exponential coefficients; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.10.088
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: This paper treats an experimental and modeling study to predict the electrochemical performance of a Ni/YSZ supported planar SOFC with the air electrode made by LSFC-GDC. A complete electrochemical model is developed and calibrated on experiments to validate the numerical data. A detailed description is presented to show how the electrochemical parameters are fitted, the validity of proposed model and the fitting parameters is shown by comparing experimental data with numerical results. The parameters are discussed in comparison with the literature, and the effect of fuel dilution with N2 on the anodic activation is highlighted. Moreover, the effects of key operating parameters such as, hydrogen molar fraction, fuel flow rate and temperature, on the cell performance are investigated. Because the dependence of overpotentials on molar fraction, increasing the hydrogen molar fraction enhances the power density for both H2/H2O and H2/N2 mixtures. Similarly, the fuel flow rate presents the same trend as that of hydrogen molar fraction. The ohmic, activation and concentration overpotentials are affected by the operating temperature. Therefore, higher power density can be obtained at a higher temperature. Highlights: Electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cell is investigated with both H2/H2O and H2/N2 mixtures. Numerical model is calibrated and validated with experimental data. Effects of hydrogen molar fraction and fuel flow rate on the cell performance are investigated. Dependence of the ohmic, activation and concentration overpotentials on the operating temperature are performed.