Degradation analysis and durability improvement for SOFC 1-cell stack

In a practical SOFC power generator device, stack stability and durability are the basis of the system's efficiency. A typical stack contains fuel cells and interconnects which are connected serially and the fuel and air are fed onto the different sides of the electrodes. When degradants happen at the electrodes and interfaces, the stack performance starts to decay and thus affects the system's efficiency. In this study, a planar SOFC 1-cell stack was assembled and placed in a test bench to evaluate its durability under a constant working environment. Post test was carried out to determine the source of the performance degradation. A low-cost and rapid test method was introduced to quantify morphology information of the microstructure, which could have a potential application in future use.