Analysis of micro-tubular SOFC stability under ambient and operating temperatures

The stability of micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (MT-SOFC) is predicted at ambient and operating temperatures via simulation method. The results reveal that as long as the anode failure probability satisfies the failure criterion of 1E-6 at ambient temperature, the anode will retain its structural integrity at operating temperature. For the electrolyte or cathode, the stress strength ratio at operating temperature is significantly higher than that at ambient temperature. For an inappropriate component thickness, the cathode maybe fractures at operating temperature. In order to ensure the stability of MT-SOFC, the cathode thickness must be smaller than the maximum cathode thickness (tmax-cathode), which is derived from: tmax-cathode = 5.49 + 5.54 te