Thermo-fluid and electrochemical modeling of a multi-bundle IP-SOFC – Technology for second generation hybrid application

This paper describes an electrochemical model, which studies the performance of multi-bundles integrated-planar solid oxide fuel cell (IP-SOFC strip) fuelled by pure hydrogen. Following a description of the basic geometries and general premises the approaches and simplifications for the calculation of ohmic resistance, gas flow, heat and mass transfers are given.The effect of fuel pressure ratio and the temperature variation are investigated in a parameter study. The model results have been validates well with experimental data obtained from a full-size prototype of IP-SOFC technology for the second generation hybrid application; it is found that the ohmic and cathode activation overpotentials represent a major loss in fuel cell voltage. The results obtained from both strips also demonstrated acceptable performance and good reproducibility bundles to bundles at 900 °C. These results indicated weak effect of parameter variation on the bundles to bundles performances.