Multiphysics Simulation of an Anode-supported Micro-tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)

G. Ganzer, W. Beckert, T. Pfeifer, and A. Michaelis
Fraunhofer IKTS
Dresden, Germany
Published in 2011

The high thermal stability and fast start-up behavior make micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) a promising alternative for small-scale, mobile power devices in the range of some Watts. To understand the transport phenomena inside a single micro-tubular SOFC, a 2-D, axi-symmetric, non-isothermal model, performed in COMSOL Multiphysics® 4.2, has been developed.

Due to long current path ways inside the porous electrodes, a proper current collection is of high importance to reduce ohmic resistance losses. Different ways of current collection will be analyzed and compared. The influence of varying inlet hydrogen flow rates and operating temperatures on cell performance are analyzed and discussed. The results will be compared with measured performance curves.

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