Electrochemical simulation using material properties of a ceramic electrode and electrolyte

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are commonly composed of ceramic compartments whose physical properties change according to the operating temperature. Thus, the physical properties of ceramic materials must be accurately predicted in order to develop a reliable simulation model. In this study, several physical properties that can affect the performance of SOFCs are studied using new simulation models. Calculations are made of the Gibbs free energy for the open circuit voltage, the exchange current densities for the activation polarization and the ionic conductivity for the electrolyte. In addition, the diffusion coefficients for the molecular and Knudsen diffusion mechanisms are determined for the mass transport analysis at the porous electrode. The code is validated by comparing the results from the physical property models with the experimental results. Then, the physical property models, the governing equations (mass, momentum, energy and species balance equations) and the electrochemical reaction models are run simultaneously for the multi-physics simulation. The current density-voltage (IV) curves predicted by this multi-physics analysis shows values and trends that are similar to the experimental IV curves for various operating temperatures. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.