Cell temperature measurements in micro-tubular, single-chamber, solid oxide fuel cells (MT–SC–SOFCs)

Anode supported, micro-tubular, solid oxide fuel cells made of nickel, yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni–YSZ) anode, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte and lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) cathode have been prepared and operated under single-chamber conditions. Four different cells with varying cathode location/size, i.e. inlet, center, outlet and full size have been compared. The highest temperature rise of ∼93 °C and the highest power density of ∼36 mW cm−2 (at a furnace temperature of 750 °C with methane/air = 25/60 mL min−1) was observed in the case of cathode-inlet configuration. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis shows that both the anode and cathode were badly damaged near the cell inlet in case of cathode-inlet configuration. On the contrary, both of the electrodes remained undamaged in case of cathode-outlet configuration.