Evaluation of ceria electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells electric power generation

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1391695· OSTI ID:345371

Milliken, C; Guruswamy, S ^[1]; Khandkar, A ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering
2. Cerametec, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

Samaria-doped ceria solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) single cells have demonstrated power densities >250 mW/cm{sup 2} at 700 C and stable performance for 15,000 h. Though encouraging, issues of stack performance and efficiency due to mixed conduction remain. Stacks operated on H{sub 2}/3% H{sub 2}O show approximately half the power density expected from single cells. A coupled thermal-electrochemical model which included conduction heat transfer in the solid and convection to the reactant gases was developed. The model was used to predict stack efficiencies using ceria-based SOFCs in power plant applications. Analyses indicate that ceria SOFCs may provide as high as 42% electrical efficiency when operated on humidified hydrogen fuel. These efficiencies are surprisingly high and challenge the notion that mixed conductors are unsuitable for such applications.

• OSTI ID: 345371
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 146; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CERIUM OXIDES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
PERFORMANCE
SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
SOLID ELECTROLYTES