Performance model for large area solid oxide fuel cells

• This model scales data from a 1 cm2 cell to be equivalent to a larger cell (16 cm2).
• The gas channel of the larger cell is discretized into 4–5000 elements.
• Validation on a 16 cm2 cell was successful in a broad range of operation conditions.
• This model can predict all the operating points found in any industrial stack.

A parameter set obtained from a 1 cm2 size electrode cell is used to develop and calibrate a one-dimensional spatially resolved model. It is demonstrated that this performance model precalculates the evolving operating parameters along the gas channel of a large-sized cell. Input parameters are: (i) number of discretization elements N, accounting for anodic gas conversion, (ii) anodic gas flow rate and composition and (iv) operating voltage. The model calculations based on data from the 1 cm2 cell are scaled to be equivalent to a larger cell with 16 cm2 electrode size which is used to validate the performance model. The current/voltage characteristics can be predicted very accurately, even when anodic gas flow rates vary by as much as a factor of four. The performance model presented herein simulates the total overvoltage and does so in a broad range of operation conditions. This is done with an accuracy of the simulated current better than 6.1% for UOP = 0.85 V, 3.8% for UOP = 0.8 V and 3.7% for UOP = 0.75 V. It is hoped that these equations will form the basis of a greater model, capable of predicting all the conditions found throughout any industrial stack.