Numerical Analysis of Basic Electrical and Thermal Characteristics of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.

Abstract

To obtain instructions for performance improvement of planar solid oxide fuel cell, numerical simulations are performed for one channel region of its single cell. The two-dimensional time-dependent simulation code developed by the authors is used in the calculations. It is made clear that the single cell voltage of the counter-flow type cell is higher than that of the co-flow type cell, whereas adoption of the counter-flow type cell is not advisable because the cell temperature tends to become too high. The co-flow two-divided type cell with intermediate heat exchanger, which supplies heat required for fuel pre-reforming, is most advisable, because it provides almost the same single cell voltage with much less cell temperature rise in comparison with the counter-flow type cell. The single cell voltage at flrst shows an upward curve and next a downward curve as the inlet gas temperature becomes high, indicating that its optimum selection is also important for performance improvement.