Fabrication and operation of a 1 kW class anode-supported flat tubular SOFC stack

A 1 kW class anode-supported flat tubular SOFC stack for intermediate temperature (700–800 °C) operation was fabricated and operated in this study. For this purpose, we fabricated anode-supported flat tubular cells by optimization of the current collecting method and the induction brazing process. After that, we designed a compact fuel and air manifold by adopting a simulation technique to uniformly supply fuel and air gas into the stack and a unique seal and insulation method to make a more compact stack. To assemble the stack, the prepared anode-supported flat tubular cells with an effective electrode area of 90 cm2 were connected in series to 30 bundles, in which one unit bundle consists of two flat tubular cells connected in parallel. The performance of the stack in 3% humidified H2 and air at 750 °C showed a maximum electrical power of 921 W (fuel utilization ratio = 25.2%).