Performance of tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell at reduced temperature and cathode porosity

The effect of decreasing the inlet temperature and the cathode porosity of tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) with one air channel and one fuel channel is investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach. The CFD model was developed using Fluent SOFC to simulate the electrochemical effects. The cathode and the anode of the cell were resolved in the model and the convection and conduction heat transfer modes were included. The results of the CFD model are presented at inlet temperatures of 700 °C, 600 °C and 500 °C and with cathode porosity of 30%, 20% and 10%. It was found that the Fluent-based SOFC model is an effective tool for analyzing the complex and highly interactive three-dimensional electrical, thermal, and fluid flow fields associated with the SOFCs. It is found that the SOFC can operate in the intermediate temperature range and with low porosity cathodes more efficient than at high temperatures given that the transport properties of the cathode, anode and the electrolyte can be kept the same.