Investigation of thermal radiation effects on solid oxide fuel cell performance by a comprehensive model

Thermal radiation in the air and fuel channels has the potential to dramatically influence the overall operating conditions and performance of solid oxide fuel cells. A 3D comprehensive model is developed, with emphasis on quantifying the radiative heat transfer process and its effects. The radiosity method is used for the thermal radiation in the air and fuel channels. The thermal radiation heat transfer is coupled to the overall energy conservation equation. Commercially available COMSOL CFD software is used as a platform for the global thermal-fluid modeling of the SOFC. The effects of the operating voltage, emissivity, ambient temperature and flow arrangement (Co- and Counter-flow) on the performance of SOFC are investigated. The predicted results reveal that the radiative heat transfer should be considered in SOFC modeling simulation, and the effects of the thermal radiation on the performance of SOFC under a different flow arrangement is sometimes quite significant.

► A 3D comprehensive model is developed, with emphasis on quantifying the radiative heat transfer process and its effects.
► The effects of the operating voltage, emissivity, ambient temperature and flow arrangement (Co- and Counter-flow) on the performance of SOFCs are investigated.
► It is found that the emissivity between 0.3 and 1 has a small influence on the simulation results when thermal radiation is considered.
► The effects of ambient temperature on the performance of SOFC are relatively small.
► The radiation for Co-flow has a bigger influence on the performance of SOFC than for counter-flow.