Energy transport inside a three-phase electrode and application to a proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell

This work focuses on the modelling of thermal processes inside a planar high temperature steam electrolyzer that use cermets as electrodes. While the continuity equation for mass and charge have been demonstrated in a previous publication, energy balance for thermal transfers inside the electrode assembly is established via a control volume method. A non-dimensional number is built from different criterion used in the literature in order to validate the local thermal equilibrium assumption (LTE) inside the porous electrodes. A parametric analysis is carried out on a proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell in galvanostatic mode. The results show that the heat sources are mainly ohmic and that their locations are not dependent on inlet current and inlet velocity of gases. This observation allows us to build an original thermal resistance network in order to analytically evaluate the temperature inside each component of the cell. This modelling strategy reduces computation time, allows reverse physical analysis and gives a precise estimation on the maximum temperatures attained in the components of the cells.

► Quantitative criterion for the assessment of the LTE in SOECs and SOFCs. ► Establishment of continuity equations for energy inside a cermet electrode. ► Determination of the proportion of heat released in electrodes and electrolyte. ► Thermal resistance modelling for the prediction of temperature inside SOECs.