Numerical analysis of solid oxide fuel cells in different operation parameters

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a high energy coversion device at hightemperatures (600?1000°C) which converts chemical e nergy directly toelectrical energy electrochemically. Generally a SOFC consists ofMembrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) between two interconnectors.SOFC performance depends on different parameters which are MEAmaterial and design (electrolyte supported, anode supported; planar,tubular), flow channel design, operating conditions (temperature,pressure, concentration, flow rate, etc.). Many researchers examinethese parameters using numerical modeling of these parameters. In thisstudy, to evaluate electrical performance and temperature distributionof single cell, a three dimensional model is imporoved. SOFC model issolved numerically with FLUENT which is a commercial computationalfluid dynamic program. Model is verified with experimental data andparametric studies are done. Parameters are operating temperature(700?750 ve 800oC), flow direction of fuel and air, fuel/vapor ratio,fuel/air flow rate ratio and electrolyte thickness. According to higherelectrical performance and thermal stability, operation parametersoptimized depending on this parametric study results.