One thousand-hour long term characteristics of a propane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell hot zone

► A portable SOFC-based hot zone producing maximum 163 W of electric power from propane was successfully demonstrated and evaluated for startup, VI/VP characteristics and 1000-h continuous test of long term durability. ► Based on thermodynamics analysis, the electromotive force of nickel oxidation is 13.2 V for the stack voltage at stack temperature of 740 °C. Comparing different evaluating modes for the stack, the degradation rate based on constant current mode was three times lower than that using constant voltage mode. ► From the initial current-power performance data, the stack degradation rate would be 15% per 1000 h if operating the durability from the beginning at a constant current of 9 A. It has been clearly illustrated that operating condition of constant current was more beneficial to long term test.