skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Development of 5kW class MOLB type SOFC

Abstract

Fuel cell development has been accelerated in recent years primarily due to its high efficiency and minimum environmental effect. Especially SOFC is receiving greater attention due to its excellent characteristics. Among several types of SOFC, MOLB (MOno block Layer Built) type SOFC provides following advantages for a large scale power plant; (1) Suitable for mass production, and (2) able to obtain high power density. Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc. (CEPCO) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD. (MHI) have jointly developed and evaluated the MOLB type SOFC on since 1990. This paper presents recent progress on it.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc., Nagoya (Japan) [and others
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fuel Cell Seminar Organizing Committee (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
460287
Report Number(s):
CONF-961107-Absts.
ON: TI97001494; TRN: 97:001723-0140
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: Fuel cell seminar, Kissimmee, FL (United States), 17-20 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]; Related Information: Is Part Of Fuel cells seminar; PB: 794 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS; SERVICE LIFE; PERFORMANCE TESTING; FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS; POWER DENSITY; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; TIME DEPENDENCE

Citation Formats

Hattori, M., Esaki, Y., and Sakaki, Y.. Development of 5kW class MOLB type SOFC. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/460287.
Copy to clipboard
Hattori, M., Esaki, Y., & Sakaki, Y.. Development of 5kW class MOLB type SOFC. United States. doi:10.2172/460287.
Copy to clipboard
Hattori, M., Esaki, Y., and Sakaki, Y.. Tue . "Development of 5kW class MOLB type SOFC". United States. doi:10.2172/460287. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/460287.
Copy to clipboard
@article{osti_460287,
title = {Development of 5kW class MOLB type SOFC},
author = {Hattori, M. and Esaki, Y. and Sakaki, Y.},
abstractNote = {Fuel cell development has been accelerated in recent years primarily due to its high efficiency and minimum environmental effect. Especially SOFC is receiving greater attention due to its excellent characteristics. Among several types of SOFC, MOLB (MOno block Layer Built) type SOFC provides following advantages for a large scale power plant; (1) Suitable for mass production, and (2) able to obtain high power density. Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc. (CEPCO) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD. (MHI) have jointly developed and evaluated the MOLB type SOFC on since 1990. This paper presents recent progress on it.},
doi = {10.2172/460287},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}
Copy to clipboard
Technical Report:
View Technical Report (43.06 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/460287
Save / Share:
Export Metadata
Save to My Library
You must Sign In or Create an Account in order to save documents to your library.

  • ;
    This project proposes to design and develop a new class of power converters (direct DC to AC) to drastically improve performance and optimize the cost, size, weight and volume of the DC to AC converter in SOFC systems. The proposed topologies employ a high frequency link; direct DC to AC conversion approach. The direct DC to AC conversion approach is more efficient and operates without an intermediate dc-link stage. The absence of the dc-link, results in the elimination of bulky, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which in turn leads to a reduction in the cost, volume, size and weight of the powermore » electronic converter. The feasibility of two direct DC to AC converter topologies and their suitability to meet SECA objectives will be investigated. Laboratory proto-type converters (3-5kW) will be designed and tested in Phase-1. A detailed design trade-off study along with the test results will be available in the form of a report for the evaluation of SECA Industrial partners. This project proposes to develop a new and innovative power converter technology suitable for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power systems in accordance with SECA objectives. The proposed fuel cell inverter (FCI) employs state of the art power electronic devices configured in two unique topologies to achieve direct conversion of DC power (24-48V) available from a SOFC to AC power (120/240V, 60Hz) suitable for utility interface and powering stand alone loads. The primary objective is to realize cost effective fuel cell converter, which operates under a wide input voltage range, and output load swings with high efficiency and improved reliability.« less

  • ; ;
    Osaka Gas Co. has been developing a planar type SOFC (OG type SOFC) which has a suitable structure for stacking. Murata Mfg. Co. has begun to develop the OG type SOFC stack through joint program since 1993. Figure 1 shows OG type cell structure. Because each cell is sustained by cell holders acting air manifold, the load of upper cell is not put on the lower cells. Single cell is composed of 3-layered membrane and LaCrO{sub 3} separator. 5 single cells are mounted on the cell holder, connected with Ni felt electrically, and bonded by glassy material sealant. We callmore » the 5-cell stack a unit. Stacking 13 units, we succeeded 870 W generation in 1993. But the power density was low, 0.11 Wcm{sup -2} because of crack in the electrolyte and gas leakage at some cells.« less

  • ; ;
    We have developed fabrication process for planar SOFC fabricated with cofired anode/electrolyte/cathode multilayers and interconnects. By cofiring technique for the multilayers, we expect to reduce the thickness of the electrolyte layers, resulting in decrease of innerimpedance, and achieve low production cost. On the other hand, the cofiring technique requires that the sintering temperature, the shrinkage profiles and the thermal expansion characteristics of all component materials should be compatible with the other. It is, therefore, difficult to cofire the multilayers with large area. Using the multilayers with surface area of 150cm{sup 2}, we fabricated the multiple cell stacks. The maximum powermore » of 5x4 multiple cell stack (5 planes of cells in series, 4 cells in parallel in each planes 484cm{sup 2} effective electrode area of each cell planes) was 601W (0.25Wcm{sup -2}, Uf=40%). However, the terminal voltage of the multiple cell stack decreased by the cause of cell cracking, gas leakage and degradation of cofired multilayers. This paper presents the improvements of cofired multilayers, and the performance of multiple cell stacks with the improved multilayers.« less

  • ; ;
    The following report documents the progress of the Cummins Power Generation (CPG) Diesel Fueled SOFC for Class 7/Class 8 On-Highway Truck Auxiliary Power (SOFC APU) development and final testing under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) contract DE-FC36-04GO14318. This report overviews and summarizes CPG and partner development leading to successful demonstration of the SOFC APU objectives and significant progress towards SOFC commercialization. Significant SOFC APU Milestones: Demonstrated: Operation meeting SOFC APU requirements on commercial Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel. SOFC systems operating on dry CPOX reformate. Successful start-up and shut-down of SOFC APUmore » system without inert gas purge. Developed: Low cost balance of plant concepts and compatible systems designs. Identified low cost, high volume components for balance of plant systems. Demonstrated efficient SOFC output power conditioning. Demonstrated SOFC control strategies and tuning methods.« less

  • ; ;
    The development of a practical solid oxide fuel cell requires improvement of a cell performance and a cell manufacturing technology suitable for the mass production. In particular tubular type SOFC is thought to be superior in its reliability because its configuration can avoid the high temperature sealing and reduce the thermal stress resulting from the contact between cells. The authors have fabricated a tubular cell with an air electrode support by a wet processing technique, which is suitable for mass production in improving a power density. To enhance the power output of the module, the Integrated Tubular-Type (ITT) cell hasmore » been developed. This paper reports the performance of the single cells with various active anode areas and the bundle with series-connected 9-ITT cells with an active anode area of 840 cm{sup 2}.« less